Touch-Based User Interface Conductive Rings

ABSTRACT

An apparatus in which an outer conductive ring surrounds the periphery of a touch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor serving as a manually-operable control, wherein a portion of the outer conductive ring is also between the touch-sensitive surface and another manually-operable control that lacks the ability to sense the mere touch of a tip of a digit of a user. A processing device causes the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring to be measured on a recurring basis for instances of an amount of additional capacitance above a minimum capacitance threshold, and employs such amounts of additional capacitance in a comparison to distinguish between the user interacting with a control surface defined on the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor or the other manually-operable control.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 12/613,943 filed Nov. 6, 2009 by Santiago Carvajal and John M.Sakalowsky, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to user interfaces incorporating a visualdisplay and/or a touch-sensitive control.

BACKGROUND

Part of enjoying the playing of an audio/visual program (e.g., a pieceof music, a recorded lecture, a recorded live performance, a movie, aslideshow, family pictures, an episode of a television program, etc.) isthe task of selecting the desired audio/visual program to be played.Unfortunately, the increasing variety of choices of sources ofaudio/visual programs and the increasing variety of mechanisms by whichaudio/visual programs are able to be stored and played has greatlycomplicated what was once the relatively simple act of watching orlistening to the playing of an audio/visual program to enjoy it.

For example, those wishing to “tune in” an audio/visual program beingbroadcast must now select a channel on which to view an audio/visualprogram from as many as 500 channels available through typical cableand/or satellite connections for television and/or radio. Further, ithas become commonplace to employ audio/visual devices that are able tobe programmed to autonomously tune in and record an audio/visual programfor playing at a later time. Still further, it is now becomingincreasingly commonplace to obtain audio/visual programs from websitesaccessible through the Internet, either by receiving those audio/visualprograms as streaming data while they are played, or downloading thoseaudio/visual programs as a storable digital file on an audio/visualdevice for playing at a later time. Yet further, some of these possiblesources of audio/visual programs require paid subscriptions for whichkey cards and/or decryption keys are required to gain access to at leastsome audio/visual programs.

Those seeking to avail themselves of even a modest subset of such a widearray of options for playing an audio/visual program have often foundthemselves having to obtain multiple audio/visual devices (e.g., tuners,descramblers, disc media players, video recorders, web access devices,digital file players, televisions, visual displays without tuners,etc.). Each such audio/visual device often has a unique user interface,and more often than not, is accompanied by a separate handheld wirelessremote control by which it is operated. Attempts have been made tograpple with the resulting plethora of remote controls that oftenaccompany a multitude of audio/visual devices by providing so-called“universal remotes” enabling multiple audio/visual devices to beoperated using a single remote control. However, a universal remotetends to go only so far in satisfying the desire of many users tosimplify the coordination required in the operation of multipleaudio/visual devices to perform the task of playing an audio/visualprogram.

Efforts have recently been made through cooperation among multiplepurveyors of audio/visual devices to further ease the coordinatedoperation of multiple audio/visual devices through the adoption ofstandardized command codes and various approaches to coupling multipleaudio/visual devices to enable the exchange of those standardizedcommand codes among multiple audio/visual devices. An example of thiseffort is the CEC standardized command set created as part of the HDMIinterface specification promulgated by HDMI Licensing, LLC of Sunnyvale,Calif. However, these efforts, even in conjunction with a universalremote, still only go so far in making the playing of an audio/visualprogram into a truly simple undertaking.

SUMMARY

A user interface for an audio/visual device incorporates one or both ofa touch sensor having a touch surface on which is defined a racetracksurface having a ring shape and a display element on which is displayeda racetrack menu also having a ring shape, and where the user interfaceincorporates both, the ring shapes of the racetrack surface and theracetrack menu are structured to generally correspond such that theposition of a marker on the racetrack menu is caused to correspond tothe position at which a digit of a user's hand touches the racetracksurface.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a display element capable ofvisually displaying a visual portion of an audio/visual program and aracetrack menu having a ring shape; a processing device; and a storageaccessible to the processing device and storing a sequence ofinstructions. When the sequence of instructions is executed by theprocessing device, the processing device is caused to: cause theracetrack menu to be visually displayed on the display element such thatthe racetrack menu surrounds a first display area in which the visualportion of the audio/visual program may be visually displayed; cause aplurality of menu items to be visually displayed in the racetrack menu;cause a first marker to be visually displayed in the racetrack menu;receive an indication that a first manually-operable control is beingoperated to move the first marker; in response to the indication of thefirst manually-operable control being operated to move the first marker,move the first marker about the racetrack menu and constrain movement ofthe first marker to remain within the racetrack menu; receive anindication of the first manually-operable control being operated toselect a menu item of the plurality of menu items that is in thevicinity of the first marker at a time subsequent to the firstmanually-operable control being operated to move the first marker aboutthe racetrack; and in response to the indication of the firstmanually-operable control being operated to select the menu item that isin the vicinity of the first marker, cause the menu item to be selected,wherein causing the menu item to be selected comprises taking an actionto cause the audio/visual program to be selected for playing.

Implementations may include, and are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing features. The touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor mayhave a ring shape that defines the ring shape of the racetrack surfacesuch that the racetrack surface encompasses substantially all of thetouch-sensitive surface. The apparatus may further include a manuallyoperable control, and a casing wherein the touch sensor is disposed onthe casing relative to the manually operable control such that thetouch-sensitive surface surrounds the manually operable control.

Alternatively, the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor may be acontinuous surface having no hole interrupting the touch-sensitivesurface formed therethrough, where the ring shape of the racetracksurface is defined on the touch-sensitive surface to encompass a firstportion of the touch-sensitive surface and is defined to be positionedabout the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface so as to surround asecond portion of the touch-sensitive surface, and a navigation surfaceis defined on the touch-sensitive surface to encompass the secondportion. At least one ridge may be formed in the touch-sensitivesurface, wherein the at least one ridge also at least partly defines thering shape of the racetrack surface. The processing device may be causedby the sequence of instructions to define the first and second portionsof the touch-sensitive surface by: monitoring activity on thetouch-sensitive surface; treating the receipt of an indication of thedigit touching the touch-sensitive surface at a location within thefirst portion as the indication of the digit touching the racetracksurface at the position; treating the receipt of an indication of thedigit touching the touch-sensitive surface at a location within thesecond portion as an indication of the digit operating a navigationcontrol; and in response to the indication of the digit touching thenavigation control, causing a command to be transmitted to a source ofthe audio/visual program to operate a function of another menuassociated with the source.

The apparatus may further include a source interface operable totransmit commands to a source of the audio/visual program; whereinexecution of the sequence of instructions by the processing devicefurther causes the processing device to receive an indication of themanually-operable control being operated; and in response to theindication of the manually-operable control being operated, operate thesource interface to transmit a command to the source to cause the sourceto visually display a navigation menu of the source on the displayelement. The menu may have a ring shape that substantially correspondsto the ring shape of the racetrack surface. The ring shape of both theracetrack surface and the menu may be a rectangular ring shape such thatthe racetrack surface comprises four sides and the menu comprises foursides that correspond to the four sides of the racetrack surface. Thering shape of the menu may surround a display area in which a visualportion of the audio/visual program is displayed at a time when theaudio/visual program is played.

Execution of the sequence of instructions by the processing device mayfurther causes the processing device to cause the menu to be visuallydisplayed in response to the indication of the digit touching theracetrack surface at the position at a time when the menu is not beingvisually displayed. Execution of the sequence of instructions by theprocessing device may further cause the processing device to cause themenu to be visually displayed in response to the indication of the digittouching the racetrack surface followed by an indication of the digitmoving about the racetrack surface in a wiping motion starting at theposition at a time when the menu is not being visually displayed; andcause a command concerning playing the audio/visual program to betransmitted to a source of the audio/visual program in response to theindication of the digit touching the racetrack surface followed by anindication of the digit ceasing to touch the racetrack surface at a timewhen the menu is not being visually displayed. Execution of the sequenceof instructions by the processing device may further cause theprocessing device to cause the menu to be visually displayed in responseto the indication of the digit touching the racetrack surface followedby an indication of the digit remaining in contact with the racetracksurface for at least a predetermined period of time at a time when themenu is not being visually displayed; and cause a command concerningplaying the audio/visual program to be transmitted to a source of theaudio/visual program in response to the indication of the digit touchingthe racetrack surface followed by an indication of the digit ceasing totouch the racetrack surface at a time when the menu is not beingvisually displayed.

In one aspect, a method includes receiving an indication of a digit of ahand of a user touching a racetrack surface at a position on theracetrack surface, wherein the racetrack surface is defined on atouch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor to encompass at least aportion of the touch-sensitive surface and is operable by the digit; inresponse to the indication of the digit touching the racetrack surfaceat the position, causing a marker to be visually displayed at a locationthat corresponds to the position on the racetrack surface on a menu thatis visually displayed on a display element; receiving an indication ofthe position at which the digit touches the racetrack surface beingmoved about the racetrack surface; in response to the indication of theposition being moved about the racetrack surface, causing the marker tobe moved about the menu in a manner that corresponds to the manner inwhich the position is being moved about the racetrack; receiving anindication of the user increasing the pressure with which the user'sdigit touches the racetrack surface at the position at a time subsequentto receiving the indication of the position being moved about theracetrack; and in response to the indication of the user increasingpressure with which the user's digit touches the racetrack surface atthe position, causing a menu item displayed in the vicinity of themarker to be selected, wherein causing the menu item to be selectedcomprises taking an action to cause an audio/visual program to beselected for playing.

Implementations may include, and are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing features. The method may further include defining theracetrack surface on a first portion of the touch-sensitive surface anddefining a navigation surface on a second portion of the touch-sensitivesurface such that the ring shape of the racetrack surface surrounds thenavigation surface by: monitoring activity on the touch-sensitivesurface; treating the receipt of an indication of the digit touching thetouch-sensitive surface at a location within the first portion as thereceiving of the indication of the digit touching the racetrack surfaceat the position; treating the receipt of an indication of the digittouching the touch-sensitive surface at a location within the secondportion as receiving an indication of the digit operating a navigationcontrol; and in response to the indication of the digit touching thenavigation control, causing a command to be transmitted to a source ofthe audio/visual program to operate a function of another menuassociated with the source. Alternatively and/or additionally, themethod may further include displaying the menu on the display elementwith a ring shape that substantially corresponds to the ring shape ofthe racetrack surface; and perhaps further include surrounding a displayarea on the display element with the menu, wherein a visual portion ofthe audio/visual program is displayed in the display area at a time whenthe audio/visual program is played. The ring shape of both the racetracksurface and the menu may be a rectangular ring shape such that theracetrack surface comprises four sides and the menu comprises four sidesthat correspond to the four sides of the racetrack surface.

The method may further include displaying the menu on the displayelement in response to the indication of the digit touching theracetrack surface at the position at a time when the menu is not beingvisually displayed. The method may further include displaying the menuon the display element in response to the indication of the digittouching the racetrack surface followed by receiving an indication ofthe digit moving about the racetrack surface in a wiping motion startingat the position at a time when the menu is not being visually displayed;and transmitting a command concerning playing the audio/visual programto a source of the audio/visual program in response to the indication ofthe digit touching the racetrack surface followed by receiving anindication of the digit ceasing to touch the racetrack surface at a timewhen the menu is not being visually displayed. The method may furtherinclude displaying the menu on the display element in response to theindication of the digit touching the racetrack surface followed byreceiving an indication of the digit remaining in contact with theracetrack surface for at least a predetermined period of time at a timewhen the menu is not being visually displayed; and transmitting acommand concerning playing the audio/visual program to a source of theaudio/visual program in response to the indication of the digit touchingthe racetrack surface followed by receiving an indication of the digitceasing to touch the racetrack surface at a time when the menu is notbeing visually displayed.

A user interface for an audio/visual device incorporates a touch sensorhaving multiple adjacently positioned control surfaces defined thereonby a processing device in which adjacent ones of the control surfacesshare boundaries by which a user may move a tip of a digit from one ofthe control surfaces directly to an adjacent one of the control surfacesby moving that tip across a boundary shared between them, and in whichthe surface area of whichever one of the control surfaces a user'sfinger overlies at a given moment is expanded in size to increase thedistance by which the user must move that tip to reposition that tipfrom overlying that one of the control surfaces to overlying an adjacentone, and is reduced in size to a size corresponding to an absolutemapping when a person does so move that tip.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a touch sensor having atouch-sensitive surface that is manually operable with a digit of a handof a user, a processing device, and a storage accessible to theprocessing device and storing a sequence of instructions. When executedby the processing device, the sequence of instructions causes theprocessing device to: define a plurality of control surfaces on thetouch-sensitive surface at adjacent positions that form a geometricshape, that enable a user to move a tip of the digit across thetouch-sensitive surface in a manner that moves from one of the controlsurfaces of the plurality of control surfaces to another of the controlsurfaces of the plurality of control surfaces, and that enables the userto so move the tip to cross a boundary shared by the one of the controlsurfaces and the other of the control surfaces; and receive anindication of the digit touching the touch-sensitive surface of thetouch sensor at a position overlying a surface area of a first controlsurface of the plurality of control surfaces. In response to theindication of the digit touching the touch-sensitive surface at theposition the processing device is further caused to: cause a marker tobe visually displayed at a first location on a menu in the vicinity of afirst menu item, wherein the menu is visually displayed on a displayelement; and shift a first boundary shared by the first control surfacewith a second control surface of the plurality of control surfaces intoa surface area of the second control surface to expand the surface areaof the first control surface to increase a distance by which the usermust move the tip to cause the tip to cease to overlie the first controlsurface and cause the tip to overlie the second control surface. Theprocessing device is further caused to receive an indication of theposition at which the digit touches the touch-sensitive surface beingmoved from overlying the surface area of the first control surface tooverlying the surface area of the second control surface; and inresponse to the indication of the digit touching the touch-sensitivesurface at the position: cause the marker to be visually displayed at asecond location on the menu in the vicinity of a second menu item; andshift the first boundary shared by the first control surface with thesecond control surface into the surface area of the first controlsurface to expand the surface area of the second control surface toincrease a distance by which the user must move the tip to cause the tipto cease to overlie the second control surface and cause the tip tooverlie the first control surface.

Implementations may include, and are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing features. The geometric shape formed by the plurality ofcontrol surfaces may be a ring shape such that the plurality of controlsurfaces form a racetrack surface, and the menu may have a geometricshape that mirrors the ring shape formed by the plurality of controlsurfaces such that the menu is a racetrack menu. The sequence ofinstructions may further cause the processing device to, in response tothe indication of the digit touching the touch-sensitive surface at theposition, shift a second boundary shared by the second control surfacewith a third control surface of the plurality of control surfaces into asurface area of the third control surface to at least partially maintainthe surface area of the second control surface as the first boundary isshifted into the surface area of the second control surface to increasea distance by which the user must move the tip to cause the tip to ceaseto overlie the first control surface, cause the tip to pass over thesecond control surface and cause the tip to overlie the third controlsurface.

In another aspect, a method includes defining a plurality of controlsurfaces on a touch-sensitive surface of a manually-operable touchsensor at adjacent positions that form a geometric shape, that enable auser to move a tip of the digit across the touch-sensitive surface in amanner that moves from one of the control surfaces of the plurality ofcontrol surfaces to another of the control surfaces of the plurality ofcontrol surfaces, and that enables the user to so move the tip to crossa boundary shared by the one of the control surfaces and the other ofthe control surfaces; and receiving an indication of the digit touchingthe touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor at a position overlyinga surface area of a first control surface of the plurality of controlsurfaces. The method further includes in response to the indication ofthe digit touching the touch-sensitive surface at the position: visuallydisplaying a marker at a first location on a menu in the vicinity of afirst menu item, wherein the menu is visually displayed on a displayelement; and shifting a first boundary shared by the first controlsurface with a second control surface of the plurality of controlsurfaces into a surface area of the second control surface to expand thesurface area of the first control surface to increase a distance bywhich the user must move the tip to cause the tip to cease to overliethe first control surface and cause the tip to overlie the secondcontrol surface. The method further includes receiving an indication ofthe position at which the digit touches the touch-sensitive surfacebeing moved from overlying the surface area of the first control surfaceto overlying the surface area of the second control surface; and inresponse to the indication of the digit touching the touch-sensitivesurface at the position: visually displaying the marker at a secondlocation on the menu in the vicinity of a second menu item; and shiftingthe first boundary shared by the first control surface with the secondcontrol surface into the surface area of the first control surface toexpand the surface area of the second control surface to increase adistance by which the user must move the tip to cause the tip to ceaseto overlie the second control surface and cause the tip to overlie thefirst control surface.

Implementations may include, and are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing features. The geometric shape formed by the plurality ofcontrol surfaces may be a ring shape such that the plurality of controlsurfaces form a racetrack surface, and the menu may have a geometricshape that mirrors the ring shape formed by the plurality of controlsurfaces such that the menu is a racetrack menu. The method may furtherinclude in response to the indication of the digit touching thetouch-sensitive surface at the position, shifting a second boundaryshared by the second control surface with a third control surface of theplurality of control surfaces into a surface area of the third controlsurface to at least partially maintain the surface area of the secondcontrol surface as the first boundary is shifted into the surface areaof the second control surface to increase a distance by which the usermust move the tip to cause the tip to cease to overlie the first controlsurface, cause the tip to pass over the second control surface and causethe tip to overlie the third control surface.

A user interface for an audio/visual device incorporates the ability toallow a user to interact with two different menus that are displayedsimultaneously on a single display element, perhaps one a racetrack menuand the other an on-screen menu of a source device, and incorporates avisual indication of user error that is displayed where the user hasoperated a first manually-operable control associated with a first oneof the menus to move its marker about and has then operated a secondmanually-operable control associated with the second one of the menus inan apparent errant attempt to select a menu item of the first one of themenus within a predetermined period of time or at a time when it isknown that operation of the second manually-operable control to selectsomething is not associated with a valid function, perhaps as a resultof the selection of a particular source of audio/visual programs.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a first manually-operable controloperable to move a first marker displayed on a first menu about menuitems of a first plurality of menu items that are displayed on the firstmenu, the first menu being displayed within a first portion of a displayelement; a second manually operable control operable with a second menudisplayed within a second portion of the display element simultaneouslywith the first menu; a processing device; and a storage accessible tothe processing device and storing a sequence of instructions. Whenexecuted by the processing device, the sequence of instructions causesthe processing device to: in response to receiving a first indication ofthe first manually-operable control being operated to move the firstmarker about menu items of the first plurality of menu items, cause thefirst marker to move about menu items of the first plurality of menuitems; and in response to receiving a second indication of the secondmanually-operable control being operated to make a selection within apredetermined period of time of receiving the first indication, cause anerror message indicating a user error to be displayed on the displayelement.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a display element; a processingdevice; and a storage accessible to the processing device and storing asequence of instructions. When executed by the processing device, thesequence of instructions causes the processing device to: cause a firstmenu comprising a first plurality of menu items to be displayed within afirst portion of the display element; cause a first marker to bedisplayed on the first menu among the first plurality of menu items;cause a second menu to be displayed within a second portion of thedisplay element; in response to receiving a first indication of a firstmanually-operable control associated with the first menu being operatedto move the first marker about menu items of the first plurality of menuitems, cause the first marker to move about menu items of the firstplurality of menu items; and in response to receiving a secondindication of a second manually-operable control associated with thesecond menu being operated to make a selection at a time that is notappropriate for a user to be operating the second manually-operablecontrol to make a selection.

In yet another aspect a method includes displaying a first menucomprising a first plurality of menu items within a first portion of thedisplay element; displaying a first marker on the first menu among thefirst plurality of menu items; enabling a second menu provided by asource coupled to an audio/visual device incorporating the displayelement to be displayed within a second portion of the display elementsimultaneously with the display of the first menu; in response toreceiving a first indication of the first manually-operable controlbeing operated to move the first marker about menu items of the firstplurality of menu items, moving the first marker to move about menuitems of the first plurality of menu items; and in response to receivinga second indication of the second manually-operable control beingoperated to make a selection within a predetermined period of time ofreceiving the first indication, displaying an error message indicating auser error on the display element.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The firstmanually-operable control may include a touch sensor having atouch-sensitive surface on which a racetrack surface is able to bedefined; the first portion may surround the second portion; the firstmenu may be a racetrack menu that surrounds the second menu; and thesecond manually-operable control may include a selection switch operableto select a menu item of a second plurality of menu items displayed onthe second menu. The second menu may be an on-screen menu of a sourcedevice coupled to an audio/visual device incorporating the displayelement to provide an audio/visual program to be displayed on thedisplay element.

A user interface for an audio/visual device takes measurements of atouch sensor that are indicative of the current position of a tip of afinger of a user against a touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensoron a recurring basis, maintains a predetermined quantity of thosemeasurements in a storage accessible to a processing device implementingat least a portion of the user interface, and employs measurements takenof the touch sensor at a predetermined amount of time into the past inresponse to an indication of the user having exerted increased pressureagainst the touch-sensitive surface via the tip to determine theposition of that tip at a time relatively shortly before the user beganto exert the increase in pressure.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a touch sensor providing atouch-sensitive surface enabling the position of a tip of a digit of auser to be recurringly determined as the user moves the tip across thetouch-sensitive surface while keeping the tip in contact with thetouch-sensitive surface, and able to detect an increase in pressureexerted against the touch-sensitive surface through the tip to make aselection; a processing device; and a storage accessible to theprocessing device and storing a sequence of instructions. When executedby the processing device, the sequence of instructions causes theprocessing device to: take a set of measurements from the touch sensorindicative of the position of the tip on a recurring basis; maintain apredetermined quantity of the most recently taken sets of measurementsindicative of the position of the tip in the storage; and in response toreceiving an indication of an increase in pressure exerted against thetouch-sensitive surface through the tip being detected: access one ofthe sets of measurements indicative of the position of the tip taken ata predetermined amount of time into the past; and employ the one of thesets of measurements to determine a position of the tip at a time priorto the increase in pressure being exerted against the touch-sensitivesurface.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The touchsensor may employ capacitive sensing technology that includes aplurality of conductive pads underneath the touch-sensitive surface andformed on a substrate to enable the position of a tip of a digit of auser to be recurringly determined; the substrate may be disposed on acasing of a device in a manner that is inwardly movable to permit thetouch-sensitive surface to be pressed inward into the casing in responseto the increase in pressure exerted by the user through the tip; and thetouch sensor may include a switch to detect inward movement of thesubstrate as the indication of the increase in pressure exerted againstthe touch-sensitive surface through the tip.

In further response to receiving an indication of an increase inpressure exerted against the touch-sensitive surface through the tipbeing detected, the processing device may be further caused to employwhat is determined to be the position of the tip at the time prior tothe increase in pressure being exerted against the touch-sensitivesurface to determine what menu item of a plurality of menu items wasintended to be selected by the user through the exerting of the increasein pressure against the touch-sensitive surface. Further, the processingdevice may be caused to display the plurality of menu items on a displayelement.

In another aspect, a method includes recurringly taking a set ofmeasurements from a touch sensor indicative of the position of the tipon a touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor as a user moves the tipacross the touch-sensitive surface while keeping the tip in contact withthe touch-sensitive surface; maintaining a predetermined quantity of themost recently taken sets of measurements indicative of the position ofthe tip in the storage; and in response to receiving an indication of anincrease in pressure exerted against the touch-sensitive surface throughthe tip being detected, employing the one of the sets of measurements todetermine a position of the tip at a time prior to the increase inpressure being exerted against the touch-sensitive surface.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The methodmay further include displaying a menu on a display element in which themenu comprises a plurality of menu items selectable by a user throughoperation of the touch sensor via the tip; and further response toreceiving an indication of an increase in pressure exerted against thetouch-sensitive surface through the tip being detected, employing whatis determined to be the position of the tip at the time prior to theincrease in pressure being exerted against the touch-sensitive surfaceto determine what menu item of a plurality of menu items was intended tobe selected by the user through the exerting of the increase in pressureagainst the touch-sensitive surface.

An apparatus having a touch sensor able to detect the touch of a tip ofa digit of a user, having a conductive ring able to detect the approachof the tip towards the touch sensor, having a motion sensor to sensemovement of a casing the apparatus, and having components of acontroller to place the apparatus in one of a lower power mode after apredetermined period of inactivity has elapsed, a partial power mode inresponse to an indication of the approach of a tip of a digit, and ahigher power state to detect touching of the touch sensor by a tip of adigit. Other forms of proximity detectors may be employed in place ofthe conductive ring, or the conductive ring may be replaced by one ormore elongate conductors positioned about one or more sides of theperiphery of a touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a casing; a power source of limitedcapacity to provide electric power to the apparatus; a motion sensor tosense movement of the casing; a touch sensor disposed on the casing andproviding a touch-sensitive surface enabling a touch of a tip of a digitof a user to the touch-sensitive surface to be detected; a conductivering disposed about the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface of thetouch sensor enabling an approach of the tip towards the touch-sensitivesurface to be detected; a sensor interface coupled to the touch sensorto monitor the touch-sensitive surface for an indication of a touch ofthe touch-sensitive by the tip and to monitor the conductive ring for anindication of an approach of the tip towards the touch-sensitivesurface; a processing device able to access the sensor interface and themotion sensor; and a storage accessible to the processing device andstoring a sequence of instructions. When executed by the processingdevice, the sequence of instructions causes the processing device to:place the apparatus in a lower power mode in response to an elapsing ofa first predetermined time period without receiving an indication of thecasing having been moved, without receiving an indication of theconductive ring detecting an approach of the tip, and without receivingan indication of a touch of the touch-sensitive surface by the tip,wherein the processing device disables monitoring of the touch-sensitivesurface and the conductive ring, and awaits an indication from themotion sensor that the casing has been moved; place the apparatus in apartial power mode in response to receiving an indication from themotion sensor of the casing being moved following the apparatus being inthe lower power mode, wherein the processing device disables monitoringof the touch-sensitive surface, and enables monitoring of the conductivering for an indication of an approach of the tip towards thetouch-sensitive surface; and place the apparatus in a higher power modein response to receiving an indication from the conductive ring of theapproach of the tip following the apparatus being in the partial powermode, wherein the processing device enables monitoring of thetouch-sensitive surface for an indication of a touch by the tip.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. Theprocessing device may be further caused by the sequence of instructionsto: maintain the apparatus in the higher power mode for no longer than asecond predetermined time period after the most recent instance of atouch of a tip to the touch-sensitive surface being detected, whereinthe second predetermined time period is shorter than the firstpredetermined time period; and place the apparatus in the partial powermode in response to an elapsing of the second predetermined time periodwithout receiving an indication of the tip touching the touch-sensitivesurface following the apparatus being in the higher power mode.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a casing; a motion sensor tosense movement of the casing; a touch sensor disposed on the casing andproviding a touch-sensitive surface enabling a touch of a tip of a digitof a user to the touch-sensitive surface to be detected; a conductivering disposed about the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface of thetouch sensor enabling an approach of the tip towards the touch-sensitivesurface to be detected; a sensor interface coupled to the touch sensorto monitor the touch-sensitive surface for an indication of a touch ofthe touch-sensitive by the tip and to monitor the conductive ring for anindication of an approach of the tip towards the touch-sensitivesurface; and a controller. The controller includes a main portion thatcomprises a first processing device and a second portion that comprisesthe sensor interface and a second processing device; the controllerplaces the apparatus in a lower power mode in response to an elapsing ofa first predetermined time period without the first processing devicereceiving an indication of the casing having been moved, without thesecond processing device receiving an indication of the conductive ringdetecting an approach of the tip, and without the second processingdevice receiving an indication of a touch of the touch-sensitive surfaceby the tip, wherein the second processing device disables monitoring ofthe touch-sensitive surface and the conductive ring, and the firstprocessing device awaits an indication from the motion sensor that thecasing has been moved; the controller places the apparatus in a partialpower mode in response to the first processing device receiving anindication from the motion sensor of the casing being moved followingthe apparatus being in the lower power mode, wherein the secondprocessing device disables monitoring of the touch-sensitive surface andthe second processing device enables monitoring of the conductive ringfor an indication of an approach of the tip towards the touch-sensitivesurface; and the controller places the apparatus in a higher power modein response to the second processing device receiving an indication fromthe conductive ring of the approach of the tip following the apparatusbeing in the partial power mode, wherein the second processing deviceenables monitoring of the touch-sensitive surface for an indication of atouch by the tip.

In still another aspect, a method includes placing an apparatusincorporated into a user interface of an audio/visual device in a lowerpower mode in response to an elapsing of a first predetermined timeperiod without receiving an indication of the casing of the apparatushaving been moved, without receiving an indication of a conductive ringof the apparatus detecting an approach of a tip of a digit of a user ofthe apparatus, and without receiving an indication of a touch of atouch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor of the apparatus by the tip,wherein monitoring of the touch-sensitive surface and the conductivering are disabled, and an indication that the casing has been moved isawaited; placing the apparatus in a partial power mode in response toreceiving an indication of the casing being moved following theapparatus being in the lower power mode, wherein monitoring of thetouch-sensitive surface is disabled, and monitoring of the conductivering for an indication of an approach of the tip towards thetouch-sensitive surface is enabled; and placing the apparatus in ahigher power mode in response to receiving an indication from theconductive ring of the approach of the tip following the apparatus beingin the partial power mode, wherein monitoring of the touch-sensitivesurface for an indication of a touch by the tip is enabled.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The methodmay further include maintaining the apparatus in the higher power modefor no longer than a second predetermined time period after the mostrecent instance of a touch of a tip to the touch-sensitive surface beingdetected, wherein the second predetermined time period is shorter thanthe first predetermined time period, and placing the apparatus in thepartial power mode in response to an elapsing of the secondpredetermined time period without receiving an indication of the tiptouching the touch-sensitive surface following the apparatus being inthe higher power mode.

An apparatus in which a conductive ring surrounds the periphery of atouch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor serving as a manually-operablecontrol, wherein a portion of the conductive ring is also between thetouch-sensitive surface and another manually-operable control that lacksthe ability to sense the mere touch of a tip of a digit of a user. Aprocessing device causes the level of capacitance of the conductive ringto be measured on a recurring basis for instances of an amount ofadditional capacitance above a minimum capacitance threshold, andemploys such amounts of additional capacitance in a comparison todistinguish between the user interacting with a control surface definedon the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor or the othermanually-operable control.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a casing; a touch sensor disposedon the casing as a first manually-operable control and providing atouch-sensitive surface to enable operation of a user interface by auser of the apparatus with a tip of a digit of the user; a secondmanually-operable lacking ability to sense a mere touch of the secondmanually-operable control by the tip, and disposed on the casing at alocation in close proximity to a portion the periphery of thetouch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor; an outer conductive ringdisposed about the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface of the touchsensor enabling an approach of the tip towards at least portions of thetouch-sensitive surface adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitivesurface to be detected; a processing device able to access the touchsensor and the second manually-operable control; and a storageaccessible to the processing device and storing a sequence ofinstructions. When executed by the processing device, the sequence ofinstructions causes the processing device to monitor a level ofcapacitance of the outer conductive ring on a recurring basis for aninstance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring risingabove a minimum capacitance threshold; and in response to an instance ofthe level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above theminimum capacitance threshold, employ the level of capacitance indistinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with thetouch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the useroperating the second manually-operable control.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The touchsensor may include a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of thetouch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in closeproximity to the second manually-operable control; and to employ thelevel of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishingbetween an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitivesurface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating thesecond manually-operable control, the processing device may be furthercaused to compare the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ringrising above the minimum capacitance threshold to a level of capacitanceof the conductive pad. The touch sensor may include a conductive padadjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface at the portion ofthe periphery that is in close proximity to the second manually-operablecontrol; the apparatus may further include an inner conductive ringpositioned within the area enclosed by the outer conductive ring suchthat a portion of the inner conductive ring is positioned adjacent theconductive pad in a manner in which the conductive pad is between theinner and outer conductive rings; and to employ the level of capacitanceof the outer conductive ring in distinguishing between an instance ofthe user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touchsensor and an instance of the user operating the secondmanually-operable control, the processing device may be further causedto employ the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring risingabove the minimum capacitance threshold together with a level ofcapacitance of the inner conductive ring.

In another aspect, a method may include monitoring a level ofcapacitance of an outer conductive ring surrounding the periphery of atouch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor serving as a firstmanually-operable control and separating the touch-sensitive surfacefrom a second manually-operable control on a recurring basis for aninstance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring risingabove a minimum capacitance threshold; and in response to an instance ofthe level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above theminimum capacitance threshold, employing the level of capacitance indistinguishing between an instance of a user interacting with thetouch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the useroperating the second manually-operable control.

Implementations of the apparatuses and/or the method may include, andare not limited to, one or more of the following features. The touchsensor may include a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of thetouch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in closeproximity to the second manually-operable control; and employing thelevel of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishingbetween an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitivesurface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating thesecond manually-operable control may include comparing the level ofcapacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimumcapacitance threshold to a level of capacitance of the conductive pad.The touch sensor may include a conductive pad adjacent the periphery ofthe touch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is inclose proximity to the second manually-operable control; the apparatusmay further include an inner conductive ring positioned within the areaenclosed by the outer conductive ring such that a portion of the innerconductive ring is positioned adjacent the conductive pad in a manner inwhich the conductive pad is between the inner and outer conductiverings; and employing the level of capacitance of the outer conductivering in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting withthe touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of theuser operating the second manually-operable control may includeemploying the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring risingabove the minimum capacitance threshold together with a level ofcapacitance of the inner conductive ring.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and claims that follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a user interface.

FIG. 2 depicts correlations between movement of a digit on a racetracksensor of the user interface of FIG. 1 and movement of a marker on aracetrack menu of the user interface of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and 3 d, together, depict possible variants of theuser interface of FIG. 1 incorporating different forms and combinationsof markers.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a possible architecture of the userinterface of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the user interfaceof FIG. 1 combining more of the features of the user interface into asingle device.

FIG. 6 depicts a possibility of switching between displaying and notdisplaying the racetrack menu of the user interface of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, together, depict additional possible details of theuser interface of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the user interface ofFIG. 5, additionally incorporating the possible details of FIGS. 7 a and7 b.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the controller of the architecture of FIG.4.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b, together, depict possible variants of the touchsensor employed in the user interface of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, together, depict possible variants of the userinterface of FIG. 1 incorporating more than one display area.

FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of the user interface of FIG. 1 inwhich the racetrack menu and the display area surrounded by theracetrack menu do not occupy substantially all of a display element.

FIGS. 13 a, 13 b and 13 c, together, depict aspects of a capacitivesensing variant of the touch sensor employed in the user interface ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 14 depicts an alternate form of a corner-type conductive pad of thecapacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor of FIGS. 13 a-c.

FIGS. 15 a, 15 b and 15 c, together, depict aspects of an alternate formof the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor of FIGS. 13 a-c.

FIG. 16 a depicts an alternate form of the conductive rings of thealternate form of the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor ofFIGS. 15 a-c.

FIG. 16 b depicts aspects of a resistance sensing variant of the touchsensor employed in the user interface of FIG. 1 having a form of theconductive rings of the alternate form of the capacitive sensing variantof the touch sensor of FIGS. 15 a-c.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a controller of any of the variouscapacitive or resistance sensing variants of touch sensors of any ofFIGS. 13 a-c, FIGS. 15 a-c or FIGS. 16 a-b.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a manner in which the controller of FIG. 17may balance power conservation and monitoring of the manually-operableof any of the various capacitive or resistance sensing variants of touchsensors of any of FIGS. 13 a-c, FIGS. 15 a-c or FIGS. 16 a-b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

What is disclosed and what is claimed herein is intended to beapplicable to a wide variety of audio/visual devices, i.e., devices thatare structured to be employed by a user to play an audio/visual program.It should be noted that although various specific embodiments ofaudio/visual devices (e.g., televisions, set-top boxes and hand-heldremotes) are presented with some degree of detail, such presentations ofspecific embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding throughthe use of examples, and should not be taken as limiting either thescope of disclosure or the scope of claim coverage.

It is intended that what is disclosed and what is claimed herein isapplicable to audio/visual devices that employ a tuner and/or a networkinterface to receive an audio/visual program. It is intended that whatis disclosed and what is claimed herein is applicable to audio/visualdevices structured to cooperate with other devices to play anaudio/visual program and/or to cause an audio/visual program to beplayed. It is intended that what is disclosed and what is claimed hereinis applicable to audio/visual devices that are wirelessly connected toother devices, that are connected to other devices through electricallyand/or optically conductive cabling, or that are not connected to anyother device, at all. It is intended that what is disclosed and what isclaimed herein is applicable to audio/visual devices having physicalconfigurations structured to be either portable or not. Still otherconfigurations of audio/visual devices to which what is disclosed andwhat is claimed herein are applicable will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

FIG. 1 depicts a user interface 1000 enabling a user's hand-eyecoordination to be employed to more intuitively operate at least oneaudio/visual device to select and play an audio/visual program. The userinterface 1000 incorporates a displayed “racetrack” menu 150 and acorresponding “racetrack” surface 250. As depicted, the user interface1000 is implemented by an interoperable set of devices that include atleast an audio/visual device 100 and a handheld remote control 200, andas will be explained in greater detail, may further include anotheraudio/visual device 900. However, as will also be explained in greaterdetail, the user interface 1000 may be substantially fully implementedby a single audio/visual device, such as the audio/visual device 100.

The racetrack menu 150 is visually displayed on a display element 120disposed on a casing 110 of the audio/visual device 100, and asdepicted, the audio/visual device 100 is a flat panel display devicesuch as a television, employing a flat panel form of the display element120 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) element or a plasma displayelement. Further, the audio/visual device 100 may further incorporateacoustic drivers 130 to acoustically output sound. However, as thoseskilled in the art will readily recognize, the racetrack menu 150 may bedisplayed by any of a variety of types, configurations and sizes ofaudio/visual device, whether portable or stationary, including and notlimited to, a projector or a handheld device.

The racetrack surface 250 is defined on a touch-sensitive surface 225 ofa touch sensor 220 disposed on a casing 210 of the handheld remotecontrol 200, and as depicted, the touch-sensitive surface 225 has arectangular ring shape that physically defines the shape and position ofthe racetrack surface 250 such that the racetrack surface 250encompasses substantially all of the touch-sensitive surface of thetouch sensor 220. However, as those skilled in the art will readilyrecognize, the touch sensor 220 may be incorporated into any of a widevariety of devices, whether portable or stationary, including and notlimited to, a wall-mounted control panel or a keyboard. Further, it isalso envisioned that the touch sensor 220 may have a variant of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 (see FIG. 2) that is of a shape other than aring shape with the racetrack surface 250 defined on that variant of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 in another way such that the racetracksurface 250 encompasses only a subset of that variant of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220. Further, the touchsensor 220 may be based on any of a variety of technologies.

As depicted, both the racetrack menu 150 and the racetrack surface 250have a ring shape that is a generally rectangular ring shape withcorresponding sets of four sides. More specifically, the four sides 150a, 150 b, 150 c and 150 d of the racetrack menu 150 are arranged tocorrespond to the four sides 250 a, 250 b, 250 c and 250 d of theracetrack surface 250. This four-sided nature of both of the racetrackmenu 150 and the racetrack surface 250 are meant to accommodate therectilinear nature of the vast majority of display elements currentlyfound in audio/visual devices and the rectilinear nature of the visualportion of the vast majority of currently existing audio/visual programsthat have a visual portion. However, it is important to note thatalthough the racetrack menu 150 and the racetrack surface 250 aredepicted and discussed herein as having a rectangular ring shape, otherembodiments are possible in which the ring shape adopted by theracetrack surface 250 has a circular ring shape, an oval ring shape, ahexagonal ring shape or still other geometric variants of a ring shape.Further, where the racetrack menu 150 and/or the racetrack surface 250have a ring shape that is other than a rectangular ring shape, one orboth of the display element 120 and the touch sensor 220 may have ashape other than the rectangular shapes depicted herein.

As will be explained in greater detail, the four sides 150 a-d of theracetrack menu 150 surround or overlie the edges of a display area 950in which the visual portion of an audio/visual program selected via theuser interface 1000 may be played. It is this positioning of theracetrack menu 150 about the periphery of the display element 120 andthe display area 950 (whether surrounding or overlying the periphery ofthe display area 950) that supplies the impetus for both the racetrackmenu 150 and the racetrack surface 250 having a ring shape that isgenerally a rectangular ring shape, rather than a ring shape of someother geometry. Where a selected audio/visual program does not have avisual portion (e.g., the audio/visual program is an audio recordinghaving only an audio portion), the display area 950 may remain blank(e.g., display only a black or blue background color) or display statusinformation concerning the playing of the selected audio/visual programas the selected audio/visual program is played, perhaps with the audioportion being acoustically output by the acoustic drivers 130. Asdepicted, the four sides 150 a-d of the racetrack menu 150 are displayedby the display element 120 at the edges of the display element 120.However, it is also envisioned that the four sides 150 a-d of theracetrack menu 150 may be positioned about the edges of a “window” of agraphical user interface of the type commonly employed in the operationof typical computer systems, perhaps where the audio/visual device 100is a computer system on which audio/visual programs are selected andplayed through the user interface 1000.

As shown in FIG. 2, at various positions along one or more of the foursides 150 a-d of the racetrack menu 150 are menu items 155 that may beselected by a user of the user interface 1000. The menu items 155 mayinclude alphanumeric characters (such as those depicted as positionedalong the side 150 a) that may be selected to specify a channel or awebsite from which to select and/or receive an audio/visual program,symbols (such as those depicted as positioned along the side 150 b)representing commands to control the operation of an audio/visual devicecapable of playing an audio/visual program (e.g., “play” and “stop”commands for a video cassette recorder, a disc media player, or solidstate digital file player, etc.), and indicators of inputs (such asthose depicted as positioned along the side 150 c) to an audio/visualdevice that may be selected and through which an audio/visual programmay be selected and/or received. Although the various menu items 155positioned along the racetrack menu 150 could conceivably serve any of awide variety of purposes, it is envisioned that much of thefunctionality of the menu items 155 will be related to enabling a userto select an audio/visual program for playing, and/or to actually playan audio/visual program.

To operate the user interface 1000, a user places the tip of a digit ofone of their hands (i.e., the tip of a thumb or finger) on a portion ofthe racetrack surface 250 defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 ofthe touch sensor 220, and a marker 160 is displayed on a portion of theracetrack menu 150 that has a position on the racetrack menu 150 thatcorresponds to the position 260 on the racetrack surface 250 at whichthe tip of their digit is in contact with the touch-sensitive surface225 of the touch sensor 220. FIG. 2 also depicts how the marker 160moves about and is constrained to moving about the racetrack menu 150 tomaintain a correspondence between its location on the racetrack menu 150and the position 260 of the digit on the racetrack surface 250 as theuser moves that digit about the racetrack surface 250. In someembodiments, the marker 160 may move about the racetrack menu 150 in amanner in which the marker 160 “snaps” from being centered about onemenu item 155 to an adjacent menu item 155 as the marker 160 is movedabout a portion of the racetrack menu 150 having adjacent ones of themenu items 155. Further, such “snapping” of the marker 160 betweenadjacent ones of the menu items 155 may be accompanied by the concurrentacoustic output of some form of sound (e.g., a “click” or “beep” soundthat accompanies each “snap” of the marker 160) to provide furtherfeedback to a user of the marker 160 moving from one such menu item 155to another.

When the marker 160 is positioned over a menu item 155 that the userwishes to select, the user selects that menu item 155 by pressingwhichever one of their digits that is already in contact with theracetrack surface 250 with greater pressure than was used in simplyplacing that digit in contact with the racetrack surface 250. In someembodiments, the touch sensor 220, itself, is capable of distinguishingdifferent degrees of pressure with which the digit is put into contactwith the touch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220 on whichthe racetrack surface 250 is defined in order to distinguish an instancein which the user is pressing harder with that digit to select one ofthe menu items 155. In other embodiments, the touch sensor 220 is ableto function in a manner not unlike a mechanically depressible button inwhich the additional pressure applied through that digit by the usercauses the touch sensor 220 to be pressed inward towards the casing 210as part of selecting a menu item. This may be accomplished by overlyingone or more buttons disposed within the casing 210 with the touch sensor220 so that such buttons are depressed by the touch sensor 220 as thetouch sensor 220 is itself depressed towards the casing 210. Where thetouch sensor 220 is able to be pressed inward towards the casing 210,such inward movement may be accompanied by a “click” sound that may beheard by the user and/or a tactile “snap” sensation that can be sensedby the user through their digit to give the user some degree of positivefeedback that they've successfully selected one of the menu items 155.Regardless of whether the touch sensor 220 is able to be pressed inwardtowards the casing 210, or not, a “click” or other sound accompanyingthe user's use of increased pressure on the racetrack surface 250 toselect one of the menu items 155 may be acoustically output through anacoustic driver (not shown) incorporated into the remote control 200and/or through the acoustic drivers 130 of the audio/visual device 100.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and 3 d depict other variations of forms of markerand combinations of markers. As will be made clear, different forms ofmarker and combinations of multiple markers may be used to enhance therapidity with which the eyes of a user of the user interface 1000 isdrawn to a specific location on the racetrack menu 150, and to aid thehand-eye coordination of that user.

Although the marker 160 was depicted in FIG. 2 as taking the form of abox-shaped graphical element sized to surround one of the menu items 155at a time when positioned in the vicinity of one or more of the menuitems 155, FIG. 3 a depicts another variant of the marker 160 having theform of a triangular pointer. Still other possible graphicalrepresentations of the marker 160 will occur to those skilled in theart, such as forms of the marker 160 having other geometric shapes(e.g., a dot, a circle, an arrow, etc.) or other ways of beingpositioned in the vicinity of a given one of the menu items 155 (e.g.,overlying, surrounding, pointing to, touching, etc., one of the menuitems 155). Still further, instead of the marker 160 being a graphicalelement that is separate and distinct from any of the menu items 155,the marker 160 may instead be a modified form of a given one of the menuitems 155, such as a change in a color of a menu item, an enlargement ofa menu item in comparison to others, or some form of recurring animationor movement imparted to a menu item. In other words, the position of themarker 160 (and by extension, the position 260 of the tip of a digit onthe racetrack surface 250) may be indicated by one of the menu items 155changing color, changing font, becoming larger, becoming brighter, orbeing visually altered in comparison to the others of the menu items 155in any of a number of ways to draw a user's eyes to it.

FIG. 3 a also depicts an optional additional marker 165 that follows thelocation of the marker 160 and provides a visual “highlight” of whichone of the four sides 150 a-d the marker 160 is currently positionedwithin as a visual aid to enable a user's eyes to be more quicklydirected to that one of the four sides 150 a-d when looking at theracetrack menu 150. Though not specifically depicted, in otherembodiments, the additional marker 165 may be implemented as ahighlighting, change in color, change in background color, change infont, enlargement or other visual alteration made to all of the menuitems 155 that are positioned in that one of the four sides 150 a-d.

FIG. 3 b depicts the manner in which the marker 160 may be dynamicallyresized as it is moved about the racetrack menu 150, especially inembodiments where the marker 160 is of a form that in some way overlapsor surrounds one of the menu items 155 at a time in order to take intoaccount the different sizes of different ones of the menu items 155.More specifically, and as depicted in FIG. 3 b, the numeral “3” hasvisibly smaller dimensions (i.e., occupies less space in the racetrackmenu 150) than does the numeral “III” that is also present on the sameracetrack menu 150. Thus, when the depicted form of the marker 160(i.e., the “box” form of the marker 160 that has been discussed atlength) is positioned on one or the other of these two particular onesof the menu items 155, the marker 160 is resized to be larger or smalleras needed to take into account the different sizes of these twoparticular ones of the menu items 155.

FIG. 3 c also depicts an optional additional marker 162 that follows thelocation of the marker 160 and provides a more precise visual indicationthan does the marker 160 of the position 260 of the tip of a user'sdigit along a corresponding portion of the racetrack surface 250. Asdepicted, the marker 162 takes the form of what might be called a “dash”positioned along one of the edges of the box form of the marker 160.However, it should be noted that the marker 162 may take any of avariety of forms (e.g., a dot, a circle, an arrow, etc.). The provisionof the marker 162 may be deemed desirable in embodiments where themarker 160 moves in the manner previously described in which the marker160 “snaps” between adjacent ones of the menu items 155 such that themarker 160 does not, itself, provide as precise an indication of theposition 260 of the tip of the user's digit. More specifically, FIG. 3 cdepicts a succession of views of a portion of the racetrack menu 150 onwhich menu items 155 taking the form of the numerals “1” through “5” arepositioned. As can be seen in this depicted succession, the marker 162provides a more precise indication of the movement of the position 260of the tip of the user's digit along a portion of the racetrack surface250 from left to right than does the marker 160 which remains on the oneof the menu items 155 having the form of the numeral “2” on this portionof the racetrack menu 150. Such a higher precision indication of theposition 260 of the tip of the user's digit may aid the user inimproving their hand-eye coordination in operating the user interface1000. Such a higher precision indication of the position 260 may alsoprovide a user with some degree of reassurance that the user interface1000 is responding to their actions (or more specifically, whateverprocessing device is incorporated into the user interface 1000 isresponding to their actions) by seeing that the exact position 260 ofthe tip of their digit is being successfully detected.

FIG. 3 d depicts yet another alternate variation of the marker 160 in avariant of the user interface 1000 in which the racetrack menu 150 isdivided into multiple segments, with each such segment serving as abackground to one of the menu items 155. As depicted, the marker 160 isimplemented as both a change in the color and/or brightness of one ofthose segments of the racetrack menu 150 and an enlarging of thegraphical element representing the one of the menu items 155(specifically, the numeral “3”) positioned within that segment. As sodepicted, the marker 160 might be said to have a form that is a variantof the earlier-depicted box, but a box that is made visible by having acolor and/or brightness that differs from the rest of the racetrack menu150, rather than a box that is made visible by a border or outline. FIG.3 d also depicts this alternate variation of the marker 160 being usedin combination with the earlier-described additional marker 162 thatprovides a more precise indication of the position 260 of the tip of auser's digit along a portion of the racetrack surface 250.

FIG. 3 d also depicts how this variant of the marker 160 is resized toaccommodate the different sizes of the different ones of the menu items155, although this resizing now corresponds to the differing dimensionsof different ones of the segments into which the racetrack menu 150 isdivided. In some variants, each of the segments may be individuallysized to fit the visual size and shape of its corresponding one of themenu items 155, as depicted in FIG. 3 d. Thus, since the numeral “3” ofone of the menu items 155 is smaller in at least one dimension than thenumeral “III” of another one of the menu items 155 (even with thenumeral “3” being enlarged in font size), the segment of the racetrackmenu 150 in which the numeral “3” is positioned is smaller than thesegment in which the numeral “III” is positioned. However, in othervariants, the segments filling at least one of the four sides 150 a-dmay all be sized based on the quantity of the menu items 155 positionedin that one of the four sides so as to divide that one of the four sides150 a-d into equal-sized segments. Where the ones of the menu items 155along that one of the four sides 150 a-d may change in response to aselection of an input or for other reasons, the size of the segments inthat one of the four sides 150 a-d may change in response to a change inquantity of the menu items 155 positioned in that one of the four sides150 a-d. Thus, for example, a reduction in the quantity of menu items155 in that one of the four sides 150 a-d results in each of itssegments becoming larger in at least one dimension, and an increase inthe quantity of menu items 155 results in that one of the four sides 150a-d results in each of its segments becoming smaller.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a possible architecture of the userinterface 1000 by which a controller 500 receives input through a user'suse of at least the racetrack surface 250 defined on at least a portionof a touch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220 to which thecontroller 500 is coupled, and provides at least the racetrack menu 150as a visual output to the user through at least the display element 120to which the controller 500 is also coupled. In various possibleembodiments, the controller 500 may be incorporated directly into theaudio/visual device 100, or into another audio/visual device 900 coupledto the audio/visual device 100 and shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. Asalso depicted in FIG. 1, the remote control 200 communicates wirelesslythrough the emission of radio frequency, infrared or other wirelessemissions to whichever one of the audio/visual devices 100 and 900incorporates the controller 500. However, as those skilled in the artwill readily recognize, the remote control 200 may communicate throughan electrically and/or optically conductive cable (not shown) in otherpossible embodiments. Alternatively and/or additionally, the remotecontrol 200 may communicate through a combination of wireless andcable-based (optical or electrical) connections forming a networkbetween the remote control 200 and the controller 500.

Still other embodiments may incorporate the touch sensor 220 directly ona user accessible portion of one or both of the audio/visual devices 100and 900, either in addition to or as an alternative to providing thetouch sensor 220 on the remote control 200. Indeed, FIG. 5 depicts analternate variant of the audio/visual device 100 having more of aportable configuration incorporating both the display element 120displaying the racetrack menu 150 and the touch sensor 220 with thetouch-sensitive surface 225 on which the racetrack surface 250 isdefined. This alternative variant of the audio/visual device 100 mayalso incorporate the controller 500, such that much (if notsubstantially all) of the user interface 1000 is implemented solely bythe audio/visual device 100.

Returning to FIG. 4, regardless of which audio/visual deviceincorporates the controller 500, the controller 500 incorporatesmultiple interfaces in the form of one or more connectors and/or one ormore wireless transceivers by which the controller 500 is able to becoupled to one or more sources 901, 902, 903 and/or 904. Any suchconnectors may be disposed on the casing of whatever audio/visual devicethe controller 500 is incorporated into (e.g., the casing 110 of theaudio/visual device 100 or a casing of the audio/visual device 900). Inbeing so coupled, the controller 500 is able to transmit commands to oneor more of the sources 901-904 to access and select audio/visualprograms, and is able to receive audio/visual programs therefrom. Eachof the sources 901-904 may be any of a variety of types of audio/visualdevice, including and not limited to, RF tuners (e.g., cable televisionor satellite dish tuners), disc media recorders and/or players, tapemedia recorders and/or players, solid-state or disk-based digital fileplayers (e.g., a MP3 file player), Internet access devices to accessstreaming data of audio/visual programs, or docking cradles for portableaudio/visual devices (e.g., a digital camera). Further, in someembodiments, one or more of the sources 901-904 may be incorporated intothe same audio/visual device into which the controller 500 isincorporated (e.g., a built-in disc media player or built-in radiofrequency tuner).

In embodiments where one of the sources 901-904 is not incorporated intothe same audio/visual device as the controller 500, and where that oneof the sources 901-904 is coupled to the controller 500 via an interfaceof the controller 500 employing a connector, any of a variety of typesof electrical and/or optical signaling conveyed via electrically and/oroptically conductive cabling may be employed. Preferably, a single cableis employed both in relaying commands from the controller 500 to thatone of the sources 901-904 and in relaying audio/visual programs to thecontroller 500. However, combinations of cabling in which differentcables separately perform these functions are also possible. Some of thepossible forms of cabling able to relay both commands and audio/visualprograms may conform to one or more industry standards, including andnot limited to, Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorecepteurset Televiseurs (SCART) promulgated in the U.S. by the ElectronicIndustries Alliance (EIA) of Arlington, Va.; Ethernet (IEEE-802.3) orIEEE-1394 promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) of Washington, D.C.; Universal Serial Bus (USB)promulgated by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. of Portland, Oreg.;Digital Visual Interface (DVI) promulgated by the Digital DisplayWorking Group (DDWG) of Vancouver, Wash.; High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI) promulgated by HDMI Licensing, LLC of Sunnyvale,Calif.; or DisplayPort promulgated by the Video Electronics StandardsAssociation (VESA) of Milpitas, Calif. Other possible forms of cablingable to relay only one or the other of commands and audio/visualprograms may conform to one or more industry standards, including andnot limited to, RS-422 or RS-232-C promulgated by the EIA; VideoGraphics Array (VGA) maintained by VESA; RC-5720C (more commonly called“Toslink”) maintained by the Japan Electronics and InformationTechnology Industries Association (JEITA) of Tokyo, Japan; the widelyknown and used Separate Video (S-Video); or S-Link maintained by SonyCorporation of Tokyo, Japan.

In other embodiments where one of the sources 901-904 is notincorporated into the same audio/visual device as the controller 500,and where that one of the sources 901-904 is coupled to the controller500 via a wireless transceiver, any of a variety of types of infrared,radio frequency or other wireless signaling may be employed. Preferably,a single wireless point-to-point coupling is employed both in relayingcommands from the controller 500 to that one of the sources 901-904 andin relaying audio/visual programs to the controller 500. However,combinations of separate wireless couplings in which these functions areseparately performed are also possible. Some of the possible forms ofwireless signaling able to relay both commands and audio/visual programsmay conform to one or more industry standards, including and not limitedto, IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g promulgated by the IEEE; Bluetoothpromulgated by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Bellevue, Wash.;or ZigBee promulgated by the ZigBee Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.

In still other embodiments where one of the sources 901-904 is notincorporated into the same audio/visual device as the controller 500, acombination of cabling-based and wireless couplings may be used. Anexample of such a combination may be the use of a cabling-based couplingto enable the controller 500 to receive an audio/visual program fromthat one of the sources 901-904, while an infrared transmitter coupledto the controller 500 may be positioned at or near the one of thesources 901-904 to wirelessly transmit commands via infrared to that oneof the sources 901-904. Still further, although FIG. 4 depicts each ofthe sources 901-904 as being directly coupled to the controller 500 in apoint-to-point manner, those skilled in the art will readily recognizethat one or more of the sources 901-904 may be coupled to the controller500 indirectly through one or more of the others of the sources 901-904,or through a network formed among the sources 901-904 (and possiblyincorporating routers, bridges and other relaying devices that will befamiliar to those skilled in the art) with multiple cabling-based and/orwireless couplings.

Some of the above-listed industry standards include specifications ofcommands that may be transmitted between audio/visual devices to controlaccess to and/or control the playing of audio/visual programs, includingmost notably, SCART, IEEE-1394, USB, HDMI, and Bluetooth. Where such anindustry standard for coupling the controller 500 to one or more of thesources 901-904 is employed, the controller 500 may limit the commandstransmitted to one or more of the sources 901-904 to the commandsspecified by that industry standard and map one or more of thosecommands to corresponding ones of the menu items 155 such that a user isable to cause the controller 500 to send those commands to one or moreof the sources 901-904 by selecting those corresponding ones of the menuitems 155. However, where the benefit of such a standardized command setis unavailable, the controller 500 may employ any of a wide variety ofapproaches to identify one or more of the sources 901-904 to an extentnecessary to “learn” what commands are appropriate to transmit and themanner in which they must be transmitted.

A user of the user interface 1000 may select one of the sources 901-904as part of selecting an audio/visual program for being played byemploying the racetrack surface 250 and the marker 160 to select one ormore of the menu items 155 shown on the racetrack menu 150, such as the“I” through “IV” menu items 155 depicted as displayed by the controller500 on the side 150 c of the racetrack menu 150. Those menu items 155depicted on the side 150 c correspond to the sources 901 through 904,which are depicted as bearing the labels “source I” through “source IV”in FIG. 4. The controller 500 receives input from the touch sensor 220indicating the contact of the user's digit with a portion of theracetrack surface 250, indicating movement of the position 260 ofcontact of the digit about the racetrack surface 250, and indicating theapplication of greater pressure by the user through that digit againstthe touch sensor 220 at the position 260 (wherever the position 260 isat that moment) when selecting one of the menu items 155. The selectionof one of the sources 901-904 by the user causes the controller 500 toswitch to receiving audio/visual programs from that one of the sources901-904, and to be ready to display any visual portion in the displayarea 950 and acoustically output any audio portion through the acousticdrivers 130 (or whatever other acoustic drivers may be present andemployed for playing audio/visual programs).

The selection of one of the sources 901-904 may further cause thecontroller 500 to alter the quantity and types of menu items 155displayed on one or more of the sides 150 a-d of the racetrack menu 150such that the displayed menu items 155 more closely correspond to thefunctions supported by whichever one of the sources 901-904 that hasbeen selected. This changing display of at least a subset of the menuitems 155 enables the user to operate at least some functions of aselected one of the sources 901-904 by selecting one or more of the menuitems 155 to thereby cause the controller 500 to transmit one or morecommands corresponding to those menu items to the selected one of thesources 901-904. By way of example, where the one of the sources 901-904with the ability to record an audio/visual program was previouslyselected, the racetrack menu 150 may include one or more menu items 155that could be selected to cause the controller 500 to transmit a commandto that previously selected one of the sources 901-904 to cause it tostart recording an audio/visual program. However, if the user thenselects another one of the sources 901-904 that does not have theability to record an audio/visual program, then the controller 500 wouldalter the menu items 155 displayed on the racetrack menu 150 to removeone or more menu items associated with recording an audio/visualprogram. In this way, at least a subset of the menu items 155 displayedon the racetrack menu 150 are “modal” in nature, insofar as at leastthat subset changes with the selection of different ones of the sources901-904.

The coupling and/or uncoupling of one or more of the sources 901-904 toand/or from whatever audio/visual device into which the controller 500is incorporated may also cause the controller 500 to alter the quantityand/or types of menu items 155 that are displayed in another example ofat least a subset of the menu items 155 being modal in nature. By way ofexample, the uncoupling of one of the sources 901-904 where that one ofthe sources 901-904 had been coupled through cabling may cause thecontroller 500 to remove the one of the menu items 155 by which that nowuncoupled one of the sources 901-904 could be selected. Alternativelyand/or additionally, where that uncoupled one of the sources 901-904 wasalready selected at the time of such uncoupling such that a subset ofthe menu items 155 is displayed that is meant to correspond to thefunctions able to be performed by that now uncoupled one of the sources901-904, the controller 500 may respond to such an uncoupling byautonomously selecting one of the other of the sources 901-904 andaltering the subset of the menu items 155 to correspond to the functionsable to be performed by that newly selected one of the sources 901-904.In contrast, and by way of another example, the uncoupling of one of thesources 901-904 where that one of the sources 901-904 had beenwirelessly coupled may or may not cause the controller 500 to remove theone of the menu items 155 by which that now uncoupled one of the sources901-904 could be selected. If there is a mechanism provided in thechosen form of wireless communications used in the coupling thatindicates that the uncoupling is due simply to that one of the sources901-904 entering into a low-power or “sleep” mode, then it may be thatno change is made by the controller 500 to the menu items 155 that aredisplayed, especially if the form of wireless communications used allowsthe controller 500 to signal that one of the sources 901-904 to “wakeup” in response to the user selecting one of the menu items 155 that isassociated with it. However, if no such mechanism to indicate thecircumstances of an uncoupling are available, then the uncoupling maywell result in an alteration or removal of at least some of the menuitems 155 displayed on the racetrack menu 150. Where a previouslyuncoupled one of the sources 901-904 is subsequently coupled, onceagain, regardless of the type of coupling, the controller 500 may becaused to automatically select that now coupled one of the sources901-904. This may be done based on an assumption that the user hascoupled that source to whatever audio/visual device into which thecontroller 500 is incorporated with the intention of immediately playingan audio/visual program from it.

While at least some of the menu items 155 may be modal in nature suchthat they are apt to change depending on the selection and/or conditionof one or more of the sources 901-904, others of the menu items 155 maynot be modal in nature such that they are always displayed whenever theracetrack menu 150 is displayed. More specifically, where one or more ofthe sources 901-904 are incorporated into the same audio/visual deviceas the controller 500, the ones of the menu items 155 associated withthose sources may remain displayed in the racetrack menu 150, regardlessof the occurrences of many possible events that may cause other menuitems 155 having a modal nature to be displayed, to not be displayed, orto be displayed in some altered form. By way of example, where a radiofrequency tuner is incorporated into the same audio/visual device intowhich the controller 500 is incorporated, then a subset of the menuitems 155 associated with selecting a radio frequency channel (e.g., thedecimal point and numerals “0” through “9” depicted as displayed withinthe side 150 a) may be a subset of the menu items 155 that is alwaysdisplayed in the racetrack menu 150. It may be that the selection of anymenu item of such a subset of the menu items 155 may cause thecontroller 500 to automatically switch the selection of a source ofaudio/visual programs to the source associated with those menu items155. Thus, in the example where an audio/visual device incorporates aradio frequency tuner and menu items 155 associated with selecting aradio frequency channel are always displayed, the selection of any oneof those menu items would cause the controller 500 to automaticallyswitch to that radio frequency tuner as the source from which to receivean audio/visual program if that tuner were not already selected as thesource. By way of another example, one or more of the menu items 155associated with selecting a source of audio/visual programs (e.g., theroman numerals “I” through “IV” depicted as displayed within the side150 c) may be menu items that are always displayed in the racetrack menu150.

Regardless of what source is selected or how the source is selected, ifan audio/visual program received by the controller 500 from that sourcehas a visual portion, then the controller 500 causes that visual portionto be displayed in the display area 950. As has so far been depicted anddescribed, the racetrack menu 150 has a rectilinear configuration withthe four sides 150 a-d that are configured to surround or overlie edgesof the display area 950. However, in some embodiments, it may be thatthe racetrack menu 150 is not always displayed such that what is shownon the display element 120 of the audio/visual device 100 could beeither the display area 950 surrounded by the racetrack menu 150, or thedisplay area 950 expanded to fill the area otherwise occupied by theracetrack menu 150.

As depicted in FIG. 6, what is shown on the display element 120 couldtoggle between these two possibilities, and this toggling could occur inresponse to observed activity and/or a lack of observed activity in theoperation of at least the racetrack surface 250. More specifically, onoccasions where no indication of contact by a user's digit on theracetrack surface 250 has been received by the controller 500 for atleast a predetermined period of time, the controller 500 may provide thedisplay element 120 with an image that includes substantially nothingelse but the display area 950 such that a visual portion of an audiovisual program is substantially the only thing shown on the displayelement 120. However, once the controller 500 has received an indicationof activity such as the tip of a digit making contact with racetracksurface 250, the controller 500 then provides the display element 120with an image that includes a combination of the display area 950 andthe racetrack menu 150.

In some embodiments, at a time when both the display area 950 and theracetrack menu 150 are displayed, the controller 500 reduces the size ofthe display area 950 to make room around the edges of the display area950 for the display of the racetrack menu 150 on the display element120, and in so doing, may rescale the visual portion (if there is one)of whatever audio/visual program may be playing at that time. In otherembodiments, the display area 950 is not resized, and instead, theracetrack menu 150 is displayed in a manner in which the racetrack menu150 overlies edge portions of the display area 950 such that edgeportions of any visual portion of an audio/visual program are no longervisible. However, in those embodiments in which the racetrack menuoverlies edge portions of the display area 950, the racetrack menu 150may be displayed in a manner in which at least some portions of theracetrack menu have a somewhat “transparent” quality in which theoverlain edge portions of any visual portion of an audio/visual programcan still be seen by the user “looking through” the racetrack menu 150.As will be familiar to those skilled in the art, this “transparent”quality may be achieved through any of a number of possible approachesto combining the pixels of the image of the racetrack menu 150 withpixels of the overlain portion of any visual portion of an audio/visualprogram (e.g., by averaging pixel color values, alternatelyinterspersing pixels, or bit-wise binary combining of pixels with apixel mask).

Along with combining the visual display of the display area 950 and theracetrack menu 150, the controller 500 may also combine audio associatedwith operation of the user interface 1000 with an audio portion (ifpresent) of an audio/visual program being played. More specifically,“click” sounds associated with the user pressing the racetrack surface250 defined on a surface of the touch sensor 220 with greater pressureand/or with the “snapping” of the marker 160 between adjacent ones ofthe menu items 155 may be combined with whatever audio portion isacoustically output as part of the playing of an audio/visual program.

In some embodiments, at a time when the racetrack menu 150 is notdisplayed (e.g., at a time when only the display area 950 is displayed),the controller 500 may do more than simply cause the racetrack menu 150to be displayed in response to a user touching a portion of theracetrack sensor 250. More specifically, in addition to causing theracetrack menu 150 to be displayed, the controller 500 may takeparticular actions in response to particular ones of the sides 250 a-dof the racetrack surface 250 being touched by a user at a time when theracetrack menu 150 is not being displayed. By way of example, at a timewhen the racetrack menu 150 is not being displayed, the detection of atouch to the side 250 d may cause a command to be sent to one of thesources 901-904 to provide an on-screen guide concerning audio/visualprograms able to be provided by that source, where such a guide would bedisplayed in the display area 950, with edges of the display area 950being either surrounded or overlain by the racetrack menu 150 as hasbeen previously described.

In a variation of such embodiments, it may be that causing the racetrackmenu 150 to be displayed requires both a touch and some minimum degreeof movement of the tip of a user's digit on the racetrack surface 250(i.e., a kind of “touch-and-drag” or “wiping” motion across a portion ofthe racetrack surface 250), while other particular actions are taken inresponse to where there is only a touch of a tip of a user's digit onparticular ones of the sides 250 a-d of the racetrack sensor 250. By wayof example, while the racetrack menu 150 is not displayed, touching theside 250 a may cause a command to be sent to a source to turn thatsource on or off, and touching the side 250 b may cause an audio portionof an audio/visual program to be muted, while both touching and moving adigit across a portion of the racetrack surface 250 in a “wiping” motionis required to enable the display and use of the racetrack menu 150.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, taken together, depict additional features that maybe incorporated into the user interface 1000. Where a selected one ofthe sources 901-904 displays its own on-screen menu 170 (e.g., a guideconcerning audio/visual programs available from that source), either inplace of a visual portion of an audio/visual program or overlying avisual portion of an audio/visual program, some embodiments of the userinterface 1000 may be augmented to support at least partly integratingthe manner in which a user would navigate such an on-screen menu 170into the user interface 1000. In such embodiments, the touch sensor 220,with its ring shape (whether that ring shape is a rectangular ringshape, or a ring shape of a different geometry), may be configured tosurround a set of controls for use in navigating the on-screen menu 170just as the racetrack menu 150 surrounds the on-screen menu 170, itself.

In particular, FIG. 7 b depicts the manner in which the touch sensor 220disposed on the casing 210 of the remote control 200 of FIG. 1 maysurround navigation buttons 270 a, 270 b, 270 c and 270 d, as well as aselection button 280, that are also disposed on the casing 210. Inalternate variants, other forms of one or more manually-operablecontrols may be surrounded by the touch sensor 220, in addition to or inplace of the navigation buttons 270 a-d and the selection button 280,including and not limited to, a joystick, or a four-way rocker switchthat may either surround a selection button (such as the selectionbutton 280) or be useable as a selection button by being pressed in themiddle. As a result of the ring shape of the touch sensor 220 beingemployed to surround the navigation buttons 270 a-d and the selectionbuttons 280, a nested arrangement of concentrically located manuallyoperable controls is created. FIG. 7 a depicts a form of possibleon-screen menu that will be familiar to those skilled in the art,including various menu items 175 that may be selected via the selectionbutton 280, and a marker 180 that may be moved by a user among the menuitems 175 via the navigation buttons 270 a-d. The concentrically nestedarrangement of manually-operable controls surrounded by the racetracksurface 250 defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 of the touchsensor 220 that is disposed on the casing 210 of the remote control 200corresponds to the similarly nested arrangement of the on-screen menu170 surrounded by the racetrack menu 150 that is displayed on thedisplay element 120.

FIG. 7 b also depicts additional controls 222, 224, 226 and 228 that maybe employed to perform particular functions where it may be deemeddesirable to provide at least some degree of functionality in a mannerthat does not require the selection of menu items to operate. In onepossible variant, the controls 222, 224, 226 and 228 are operable as apower button, a mute button, volume rocker switch and a channelincrement/decrement rocker switch, respectively. FIG. 8 depicts avariant of the handheld form of the audio/visual device 100 depicted inFIG. 5 in which the touch sensor 220 is positioned so as to surround thenavigation buttons 270 a-d and the selection button 280, and in whichthis variant of the handheld form of the audio/visual device 100 mayfurther incorporate the controls 222, 224, 226 and 228.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a possible architecture of the controller500 in which the controller 500 incorporates an output interface 510, asensor interface 520, a storage 540, a processing device 550 and asource interface 590. The processing device 550 is coupled to each ofthe output interface 510, the sensor interface 520, the storage 540 andthe source interface 590 to at least coordinate the operation of each toperform at least the above-described functions of the controller 500.

The processing device 550 may be any of a variety of types of processingdevice based on any of a variety of technologies, including and notlimited to, a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a microcontroller, or a sequencer. The storage540 may be based on any of a variety of data storage technologies,including and not limited to, any of a wide variety of types of volatileand nonvolatile solid-state memory, magnetic media storage, and/oroptical media storage. It should be noted that although the storage 540is depicted in a manner that is suggestive of it being a single storagedevice, the storage 540 may be made up of multiple storage devices, eachof which may be based on different technologies.

Each of the output interface 510, the sensor interface 520 and thesource interface 590 may employ any of a variety of technologies toenable the controller 500 to communicate with other devices and/or othercomponents of whatever audio/visual device into which the controller 500is incorporated. More specifically, where the controller 500 isincorporated into an audio/visual device that also incorporates one orboth of a display element (such as the display element 120) and at leastone acoustic driver (such as the acoustic drivers 130), the outputinterface 510 may be of a type able to directly drive a display elementwith signals causing the display of the racetrack menu 150 and thedisplay area 950 to display visual portions of audio/visual programs,and/or able to directly drive one or more acoustic drivers toacoustically output audio portions of audio/visual programs.Alternatively, where one or both of a display element and acousticdrivers are not incorporated into the same audio/visual device intowhich the controller 500 is incorporated, the output interface 510 maybe of a type employing cabling-based and/or a wireless signaling(perhaps signaling conforming to one of the previously listed industrystandards) to transmit a signal to another audio/visual device intowhich a display element and/or acoustic drivers are incorporated (e.g.,the audio/visual device 100).

Similarly, where the controller 500 is incorporated into an audio/visualdevice into which the touch sensor 220 is also incorporated, the sensorinterface 520 may be of a type able to directly receive electricalsignals emanating from the touch sensor 220. With such a more directcoupling, the sensor interface 520 may directly monitor atwo-dimensional array of touch-sensitive points of the touch-sensitivesurface 225 of the touch sensor 220 for indications of whichtouch-sensitive points are being touched by a tip of a user's digit, andthereby enable the processing device 550 to employ those indications todirectly determine where the touch-sensitive surface 225 is beingtouched. Thus, a determination of whether or not the tip of the digit istouching a portion of the racetrack surface 250 and/or the position 260by the processing device 550 may be enabled. However, where thecontroller 500 is incorporated into a device into which the touch sensor220 is not also incorporated (e.g., the controller 500 is incorporatedinto the audio/visual device 100 and the touch sensor is incorporatedinto the remote control 200), the sensor interface 520 may be of a typeable to receive cabling-based and/or wireless signaling transmitted bythat other device (e.g., infrared signals emitted by the remote control200). With such a more remote coupling, circuitry (not shown) that isco-located with the touch sensor 220 may perform the task of directlymonitoring a two-dimensional array of touch-sensitive points of thetouch-sensitive surface 225, and then transmit indications of whichtouch-sensitive points are being touched by the tip of a user's digit tothe sensor interface 520.

Although it is possible that the audio/visual device into which thecontroller 500 is incorporated may not incorporate any sources (such asthe sources 901-904) from which the controller 500 receives audio/visualprograms, it is deemed more likely that the audio/visual device intowhich the controller 500 is incorporated will incorporate one or more ofsuch sources in addition to being capable of receiving audio/visualprograms from sources not incorporated into the same audio/visualdevice. By way of example, it is envisioned that the controller 500 maybe incorporated into an audio/visual device into which a radio frequencytuner and/or an Internet access device is also incorporated to enableaccess to audio/visual programs for selection and playing without theattachment of another audio/visual device, while also having thecapability of being coupled to another audio/visual device to receivestill other audio/visual programs. In other words, it is envisioned thatthe controller 500 may well be incorporated into an audio/visual devicethat is at least akin to a television, whether portable (e.g., asdepicted in FIG. 5) or stationary (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 1).Therefore, although the source interface 590 may have any of a number ofconfigurations to couple the controller 500 to any of a number ofpossible sources, it is envisioned that the source interface 590 will beconfigured to enable the controller 500 to be coupled to at least onesource that is also incorporated into the same audio/visual device intowhich the controller 500 is incorporated, and to also enable thecontroller 500 to be coupled to at least one source that is notincorporated into the same audio/visual device.

Thus, the source interface 590 incorporates one or more of an electricalinterface 595, an optical interface 596, a radio frequency transceiver598 and/or an infrared receiver 599. The electrical interface 595 (ifpresent) enables the source interface 590 to couple the controller 500to at least one source, whether incorporated into the same audio/visualdevice as the controller 500, or not, to receive electrical signals(e.g., Ethernet, S-Video, USB, HDMI, etc.) conveying an audio/visualprogram to the controller 500. The optical interface 596 (if present)enables the source interface 590 to couple the controller 500 to atleast one source to receive optical signals (e.g., Toslink) conveying anaudio/visual program to the controller 500. The radio frequencytransceiver 598 (if present) enables the source interface 590 towirelessly couple the controller 500 to at least one other audio/visualdevice functioning as a source to receive radio frequency signals (e.g.,Bluetooth, a variant of IEEE 802.11, ZigBee, etc.) conveying anaudio/visual program to the controller 500 from that other audio/visualdevice. The infrared receiver 599 (if present) enables the sourceinterface 590 to wirelessly couple the controller 500 to at least oneother audio/visual device functioning as a source to receive infraredsignals conveying an audio/visual program to the controller 500 fromthat other source. It should be noted that although the output interface510 and the sensor interface 520 are depicted as separate from thesource interface 590, it may be deemed advantageous, depending on thenature of the signaling supported, to combine one or both of the outputinterface 510 and the sensor interface 520 with the source interface590.

Stored within the storage 540 are one or more of a control routine 450,a protocols data 492, a commands data 493, an audio/visual data 495, arescaled audio/visual data 496, and menu data 498. Upon being executedby the processing device 550, a sequence of instructions of the controlroutine 450 causes the processing device 550 to coordinate themonitoring of the touch sensor 220 for user input, the output of theracetrack menu 150 to a display element (e.g., the display element 120),the selection of a source of an audio/visual program to be played, andone or both of the display of a visual portion of an audio/visualprogram on a display element on which the racetrack menu 150 is alsodisplayed and the acoustic output of an audio portion of theaudio/visual program via one or more acoustic drivers (e.g., theacoustic drivers 130).

Upon execution, the control routine 450 causes the processing device 550to operate the sensor interface 520 to await indications of a userplacing a tip of a digit in contact with a portion of the racetracksurface 250 defined on a surface of the touch sensor 220, moving thatdigit about the racetrack surface 250 and/or applying greater pressureat the position 260 on the racetrack surface 250 to make a selection.Upon receiving an indication of activity by the user involving theracetrack surface 250, the processing device 550 may be caused tooperate the output interface 510 to display the racetrack menu 150 withone or more of the menu items 155 positioned thereon and surrounding thedisplay area 950 via a display element, if the racetrack menu 150 is notalready being displayed. The processing device 550 is further caused todisplay and position at least the marker 160 on the racetrack menu 150in a manner that corresponds to the position 260 of the user's digit onthe racetrack surface 250. Further, in response to the passage of apredetermined period of time without receiving indications of activityby the user involving the racetrack surface 250, the processing device550 may be caused to operate the output interface 510 to ceasedisplaying the racetrack menu 150, and to display substantially littleelse on a display element than the display area 950.

Upon execution, the control routine 450 causes the processing device 550to operate the sensor interface 520 to await an indication of aselection of a menu item 155 that corresponds to selecting a source fromwhich the user may wish an audio/visual program to be provided forplaying, and may operate the source interface 590 to at least enablereceipt of an audio/visual program from that selected source. Where anaudio/visual program is received, the processing device 550 may befurther caused to buffer audio and/or visual portions of theaudio/visual program in the storage 540 as the audio/visual data 495. Inembodiments in which a visual portion of an audio/visual program isrescaled to be displayed in the display area 950 at a time when thedisplay area 950 is surrounded by the racetrack menu 150, the processingdevice 550 may be further caused to buffer the rescaled form of thevisual portion in the storage 540 as the rescaled audio/visual programdata 496.

Upon execution, the control routine 450 causes the processing device 550to operate the sensor interface 520 to await an indication of aselection of a menu item 155 corresponding to the selection of a command(e.g., “play” or “record” commands, numerals or other symbols specifyinga radio frequency channel to tune, etc.) to be transmitted to anaudio/visual device serving as a source, and may operate the sourceinterface 590 to transmit a command to that audio/visual device (e.g.,one of sources 901-904) that corresponds to a menu item 155 that hasbeen selected. In transmitting that command, the processing device 550may be further caused to refer to the protocols data 492 for dataconcerning sequences of signals that must be transmitted by the sourceinterface 590 as part of a communications protocol in preparation fortransmitting the command, and/or the processing device 550 may befurther caused to refer to the commands data 493 for data concerning thesequence of signals that must be transmitted by the source interface 590as part of transmitting the command. As will be familiar to thoseskilled in the art, some of the earlier listed forms of coupling makeuse of various protocols to organize various aspects of commands and/ordata that are conveyed, including and not limited to, Ethernet,Bluetooth, IEEE-1394, USB, etc. In support of the processing device 550responding to the selection of various ones of the menu items 155, theprocessing device 550 is further caused to store data correlating atleast some of the various menu items with actions to be taken by theprocessing device 550 in response to their selection by the user in thestorage 540 as the menu data 498.

Amidst operating the source interface 590 to enable receipt of anaudio/visual program from a source selected by the user, the processingdevice 550 may be caused to operate the output interface 510 to alterthe quantity and/or type of menu items 155 that are displayed at variouspositions on the racetrack menu 150. In so doing, the processing device550 may be further caused to store information concerning the size,shape, color and other characteristics of the racetrack menu 150, atleast some of the graphical representations of the menu items 155,and/or at least one graphical representation of the marker 160 in thestorage 540 as part of the menu data 498.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b, taken together, depict and contrast two variants ofthe touch sensor 220. Both variants are depicted in perspective asdistinct touch-sensitive devices that are typically mounted within arecess of a casing of a device, including either the casing 110 of anyvariant of the audio/visual device 100 or the casing 210 of any variantof the remote control 200. However, as those skilled in the art willreadily recognize, other touch-sensitive device technologies may yieldvariants of the touch-sensitive device 220 that are film-like overlaysthat may be positioned to overlie a portion of a casing or of acircuitboard of a device. The discussion that follows is centered moreon the shape and utilization of the touch-sensitive surface 225 of thetouch sensor 220, and not on the touch-sensitive technology employed.

FIG. 10 a depicts the variant of the touch sensor 220 having the ringshape that has been discussed above at length that permits othermanually-operable controls (e.g., the navigation buttons 270 a-d and theselection button 280) to be positioned in a manner in which they aresurrounded by the ring shape of the touch sensor 220. As has alreadybeen discussed, the ring shape of this variant of the touch sensor 220provides a form of the touch-sensitive surface 225 that is bounded bythe ring shape of the touch sensor 220, and this in turn defines thering shape of the racetrack surface 250 (where the racetrack surface 250is defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 to encompass substantiallyall of the touch-sensitive surface 225). Once again, although thisvariant of the touch sensor 220 is depicted as having a rectangular ringshape having four sides, other embodiments are possible in which thetouch sensor 220 has a ring shape of a different geometry, such as acircular ring shape, an oval ring shape, a hexagonal ring shape, etc.

FIG. 10 b depicts an alternate variant of the touch sensor 220 having arectangular shape that provides a continuous form of the touch-sensitivesurface 225 that is bounded by this rectangular shape (i.e., there is no“hole” formed through the touch-sensitive surface 225). This rectangularshape more easily enables more than the ring shape of the racetracksurface 250 to be defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 in a mannerin which the racetrack surface 250 encompasses only a portion of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 and leaves open the possibility of one ormore other surfaces that serve other functions also being defined onthereon. In this alternate variant, the ring shape of the racetracksurface 250 may be defined by a processing device executing a sequenceof instructions of a routine, such as the processing device 550executing the control routine 450 in FIG. 9. In other words, thelocation of the racetrack surface 250 may be defined by a processingdevice first being provided with indications of which touch-sensitivepoints of an array of touch-sensitive points making up thetouch-sensitive surface 225 are being touched by a tip of a user'sdigit, and second treating some of those touch-sensitive points asbelonging to the racetrack surface 250 and others of thosetouch-sensitive points as belonging to other surfaces that are definedon the touch-sensitive surface 225 (and which serve other functions).

Alternatively and/or additionally, one or more ridges 227 and/or grooves(not shown) may be formed in the touch-sensitive surface 225 to at leastprovide a tactile guide as to where the racetrack surface 250 is definedon the touch-sensitive surface 225. Such ridges 227 may be formedintegrally with the touch-sensitive surface 225, may be formed as partof a casing on which the touch sensor 220 is disposed, or may be adheredto the touch-sensitive surface 225. Further, such ridges 227 and/orgrooves (not shown) may coincide with locations on the touch-sensitivesurface 225 at which the touch sensor 220 is incapable of detecting thetouch of a tip of a digit (i.e., the touch-sensitive surface 225 may bemade up of multiple separate touch-sensitive portions, of which one is aportion having a ring shape where the racetrack surface 250 is defined).

More specifically, and as depicted in dotted lines in FIG. 10 b, theracetrack surface 250 is defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 soas to be positioned about the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface225 such that the ring shape of the racetrack surface 250 surrounds theremainder of the touch-sensitive surface 225. As also depicted, at leasta portion of the touch-sensitive surface 225 that is surrounded by theracetrack surface 250 may be employed to provide the equivalent functionof other manually-operable controls, such as the navigation buttons 270a-d and the selection button 280. In other words, the navigation buttons270 a-d and the selection button 280 may be implemented as navigationsurfaces and a selection surface, respectively, defined on thetouch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220 (perhaps by aprocessing device executing a sequence of instructions), along with theracetrack surface 250.

It should be noted that although both of the variants of the touchsensor 220 have been depicted in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b as havingrectangular shapes with right angle corners, either variant mayalternatively have rounded corners. Indeed, where such a variant of thetouch sensor 220 has one or more of the ridges 227 and/or grooves (notshown), such ones of the ridges 227 and/or grooves may also have roundedcorners, despite being depicted as having right angle corners in FIGS.10 a and 10 b.

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, taken together, depict two variants of the userinterface 1000 in which more than one display area is defined within theportion of the display element 120 that is surrounded by the racetrackmenu 150. These variants enable more than one visual portion of one ormore selected audio/visual programs to be played on the display element120 in a manner that enables a user to view them simultaneously. Alsodepicted is the manner in which various ones of the menu items 155associated within only one of the display areas may be positioned alongthe racetrack menu 150 to provide a visual indication of theirassociation with that one of the display areas.

More specifically, FIG. 11 a depicts a configuration that is commonlyreferred to as “picture-in-picture” in which a display area 970 havingsmaller dimensions than the display area 950 is positioned within andoverlies a portion of the display area 950. As also depicted, ones ofthe menu items 155 that are associated with the visual portion displayedin the display area 970 are positioned along portions of the racetrackmenu 150 that are located closer to the display area 970 (specifically,portions of the sides 150 b and 150 d) to provide a visual indication tothe user of that one association. Further, ones of the menu items 155that are associated with the visual portion displayed in the displayarea 950 are positioned along portions of the racetrack menu 150 thatare further from the display area 970 (specifically, the sides 150 a and150 c) to provide a visual indication to the user of that otherassociation. As suggested in the depiction of FIG. 11 a, the ones of themenu items 155 that are associated with the display area 950 correspondto commands to play or to stop playing an audio/visual program,selection of an input, and radio frequency channel tuning. The ones ofthe menu items 155 that are associated with the display area 970correspond to commands to play or to stop playing an audio/visualprogram, and selection of an input.

Also more specifically, FIG. 11 b depicts a configuration that iscommonly referred to as “picture-by-picture” in which the display areas950 and 970 are positioned adjacent each other (as opposed to oneoverlapping the other) within the portion of the display elementsurrounded by the racetrack menu 150. Again as depicted, ones of themenu items 155 that are associated with the visual portion displayed inthe display area 950 are positioned along portions of the racetrack menu150 that are located closer to the display area 950 (specifically, theside 150 c and portions of the sides 150 a and 150 b) to provide avisual indication to the user of that one association. Further, ones ofthe menu items 155 that are associated with the visual portion displayedin the display area 970 are positioned along portions of the racetrackmenu 150 that are located closer to the display area 970 (specifically,the side 150 d and portions of the sides 150 a and 150 b) to provide avisual indication to the user of that other association. As suggested inthe depiction of FIG. 11 b, each of the display areas 950 and 970 areassociated with separate ones of the menu items 155 that correspond tocommands to play or to stop playing an audio/visual program, selectionof an input, and radio frequency channel tuning.

Although FIGS. 11 a and 11 b depict embodiments having only two displayareas (i.e., the display areas 950 and 970) within the portion of thedisplay element 120 surrounded by the racetrack menu 150, those skilledin the art will readily recognize that other embodiments incorporatingmore than two such display areas are possible, and that in suchembodiments, each of the menu items 155 may be positioned along theracetrack menu 150 in a manner providing a visual indication of itsassociation with one of those display areas. Indeed, it is envisionedthat variants of the user interface 1000 are possible having 2-by-2 orlarger arrays of display areas to accommodate the simultaneous displayof multiple visual portions, possibly in security applications.

Although FIGS. 11 a and 11 b depict separate sets of the menu items 155corresponding to commands to play and to stop playing an audio/visualprogram that are separately associated with each of the display areas950 and 970, and although this suggests that the visual portions playedin each of the display areas 950 and 970 must be from differentaudio/visual programs, it should be noted that the simultaneouslydisplayed visual portions in the display areas 950 and 970 may be of thesame audio/visual program. As those skilled in the art will readilyrecognize, an audio/visual program may have more than one visualportion. An example of this may be an audio/visual program includingvideo of an event taken from more than one angle, such as anaudio/visual program of a sports event where an athlete is shown inaction from more than one camera angle. In such instances, there may beonly one set of the menu items 155 corresponding to commands to play,fast-forward, rewind, pause and/or to stop playing the singleaudio/visual program, instead of the separate sets of menu itemsdepicted FIGS. 11 a and 11 b.

With the simultaneous display of multiple visual portions, there may bemultiple audio portions that each correspond to a different one of thevisual portions. While viewing multiple visual portions simultaneouslymay be relatively easy for a user insofar as the user is able to chooseany visual program to watch with their eyes, listening to multiple audioportions simultaneously may easily become overwhelming. To address this,some embodiments may select one of the audio portions to be acousticallyoutput to the user based on the position 260 of a tip of a digit alongthe racetrack surface 250 (referring back to FIG. 2). Where the position260 at which the user places a tip of a digit on the racetrack surface250 corresponds to a portion of the racetrack menu 150 that is closer tothe display area 950, then an audio portion of the audio/visual programof the visual portion being displayed in the display area 950 isacoustically output to the user. If the user then moves that tip of adigit along the racetrack surface 250 such that the position 260 ismoved to a portion of the racetrack surface 250 that corresponds to aportion of the racetrack menu 150 that is closer to the display area970, then an audio portion of the audio/visual program of the visualportion being displayed in the display area 970 is acoustically outputto the user. As the selection of audio portion that is acousticallyoutput to the user changes as the user moves the tip of a digit aboutthe racetrack surface 250, the corresponding position of the marker 160along the racetrack menu 150 may serve as a visual indication to theuser of which visual portion the current selection of audio portioncorresponds to.

FIG. 12 depicts an alternate variant of the user interface 1000 in whichthe combined display of the racetrack menu 150 and the display area 950surrounded by the racetrack menu 150 does not fill substantially all ofthe display element 120. Such an embodiment may be implemented on a morecomplex variant of the audio/visual device 100 capable of simultaneouslyperforming numerous functions, some of which are entirely unrelated toselection and playing of an audio/visual program. As depicted, thisleaves a display area 920 that is outside the racetrack menu 150 andthat is overlain by the combination of the racetrack menu 150 and thedisplay area 950 available for such unrelated functions. Such a morecomplex variant of the audio/visual device 100 may be a general purposecomputer system, perhaps one employed as a “media center system” or“whole house entertainment system.” In such an embodiment, thecombination of the racetrack menu 150 and the display area 950 may bedisplayed in a window defined by an operating system having a windowinggraphical user interface where the window occupies substantially lessthan all of the display element 120.

As also depicted in FIG. 12, in such an embodiment, the user may selectand control the playing of an audio/visual program through the use of avariant of the touch sensor 220 having a touch-sensitive surface 225that has a continuous rectangular shape (such as the variant of thetouch sensor 220 of FIG. 10 b), as opposed to having a ring shape (suchas the variant of the touch sensor 220 of FIG. 10 a). The racetracksurface 250 is defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 in a mannerthat occupies the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface 225 and thatsurrounds a remaining portion of the touch-sensitive surface 225 thatenables conventional operation of other functions of the audio/visualdevice 100 that may be unrelated to the selection and playing of anaudio/visual program. In essence, this remaining portion of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 may be employed in a conventional mannerthat will be familiar to those skilled in the art of graphical userinterfaces in which a user moves about a graphical cursor using a tip ofa digit placed on this remaining portion. Thus, the user may choose toengage in selecting audio/visual programs and controlling the playing ofthose audio/visual programs through the racetrack surface 250, and maychoose to engage in performing other tasks unrelated to the selectionand playing of audio/visual programs through the remaining portion ofthe touch-sensitive surface 225.

To provide tactile guidance to the user as to the location of theracetrack surface 250, one or more ridges 227 and/or grooves (not shown)may be formed in the touch-sensitive surface 225. In this way, the usermay be aided in unerringly placing a tip of a digit on whichever one ofthe racetrack surface 250 or the remaining portion of thetouch-sensitive surface 225 that they wish to place that tip upon,without errantly placing that tip on both, and without having to glanceat the touch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220.

It should be noted with regard to the depiction of a possiblearchitecture of the controller 500 in FIG. 9 that although the sourceinterface 590 is depicted as possibly employing only infrared wirelesscommunications with one or more of the sources 901-904 in the manneronly of receiving an audio/visual program therefrom via the infraredreceiver 599, other variants of architecture are possible in which thesource interface 590 (or some other component of the controller 500)employs an infrared transmitter (not shown) that is incorporated intothe source interface 590 (perhaps via replacing the infrared receiver599 with an infrared transceiver) to provide commands to one or more ofthe sources 901-904. Further, still other variants of architecture arepossible in which one or the other of the optical interface 596 or theelectrical interface 595 are employed to couple the controller 500 to aninfrared emitter (not shown) that is external to the casing of whateveraudio/visual device into which the controller 500 is incorporated, andis physically configured to be placed in relatively close proximity toan infrared receiver of one of the sources 901-904.

As has been discussed at length, operation of the user interface 1000entails a user placing the tip of a digit on the touch-sensitive surface225 at a position 260 along the racetrack surface 250 defined thereon,moving the position 260 of that tip along the racetrack surface 250 tocause movement of the corresponding position of the marker 160 along theracetrack menu 150 to the position of a particular one of the menu items155, and pressing that tip against the racetrack surface 250 withincreased pressure at the position 260 that corresponds to the positionof the particular one of the menu items 155 to select that particularone of the menu items 155. Thus, the user interface 1000 must provide amechanism to detect both the current position 260 of that tip and theincreased pressure applied by the user through that tip to select one ofthe menu items 155.

Also, as previously discussed, the touch sensor 220 may be based on anyof a variety of technologies to at least sense the position 260 of a tipof a digit of a user's hand along the racetrack surface 250 that isdefined on the touch-sensitive surface 225. More specifically, the touchsensor 220 may be based, for example, on one or more variants ofresistive, optical, inductive or capacitive sensing technology. At leastsome variants of resistive and inductive sensing technologies arecapable of sensing the amount of pressure applied by a user through atip of a digit, while at least some variants of capacitive and opticalsensing technologies are not. Thus, in some embodiments, the touchsensor 220 is able to directly sense the increased pressure applied by auser through a tip of a digit to select a particular one of the menuitems 155. And thus, in other embodiments, the touch sensor 220 is madedepressible into the casing of whatever device on which the touch sensor220 is disposed to enable a mechanical switch (e.g., perhaps aspring-biased button switch or other type of switch) to detect suchdepression of the touch sensor 220 as the mechanism by which thisincreased pressure is detected (as has been previously discussed).

FIGS. 13 a, 13 b and 13 c, taken together, depict details of a variantof the touch sensor 220 based on a form of capacitive sensing technologythat senses the proximity of a tip of a digit of a user's hand. FIG. 13a is an exploded perspective view depicting the relative positions ofvarious components of this variant of the touch sensor 220. FIGS. 13 band 13 c provide enlarged views of different aspects of a subset ofvarious components of this variant of the touch sensor 220. This variantof the touch sensor 220 incorporates a substrate 2215, multipleconductive pads 2250 disposed on a surface of the substrate 2215 in amanner forming a rectangular loop or ring shape, a cover 2210 positionedso as to overlie at least the conductive pads 2250, and a controller2500 electrically coupled to each of the conductive pads 2250 (it shouldbe noted that FIGS. 13 b-c depict only a subset of these couplings).This variant of the touch sensor 220 may further incorporate one or moreselection switches 221 interposed between the substrate 2215 and eithera printed circuit board 215 or a portion of the casing of whateverdevice into which this variant of the touch sensor 220 is incorporated(e.g., the casing 210 of the handheld remote control 200). As will beexplained in greater detail, actions taken by a user in operating thisvariant of the touch sensor 220 are detected by monitoring the levels ofcapacitance added to one or more of the conductive pads 2250 by a tip ofa digit of one of their hands being in relatively close proximity to oneor more of the conductive pads 2250.

The substrate 2215 may be formed from any of a variety of non-conductivematerials to provide a non-conductive physical support surface for theconductive pads 2250, which may be formed from any of a variety ofconductive materials. For example, the substrate 2215 may be a printedcircuit board (PCB) formed from glass-reinforced epoxy resin or othersuitable material with the conductive pads 2250 being formed thereon aspart of a copper conductor layer in a manner widely familiar to thoseskilled in the art of PCB fabrication. Alternatively, for example, thesubstrate 2215 may be a sheet of polycarbonate or other plastic ontowhich the conductive pads 2250 are printed using conductive ink.Although the substrate 2215 may be formed from a relatively flexiblematerial, it is preferred that a relatively stiff material be used tomaintain the conductive pads 2250 at stationary positions relative toeach other. Since the relatively close proximity of a tip of a digit toany one of the conductive pads 2250 is detected as an increase incapacitance of one or more of the conductive pads 2250, and since theamount of capacitance that the close proximity of a tip of a digit isable to add to any one of the conductive pads 2250 is of a relativelysmall magnitude, it is preferred that the materials and dimensions ofthe substrate and the conductive pads 2250 be selected to minimize theinherent capacitance of each of the conductive pads 2250. Doing so islikely to make the relatively small increase in capacitance added by therelatively close proximity of a tip of a digit easier to distinguishover the inherent capacitance of each of the conductive pads 2250 thatis always present, whether a tip of a digit is in close proximity, ornot.

The cover 2210 is layered over the substrate 2215 and the conductivepads 2250. The cover 2210 is meant to provide the touch-sensitivesurface 225 on which the racetrack surface 250 is to be defined, and istherefore, meant to be the portion of the touch sensor 220 with which auser is meant to have physical contact with a tip of a digit of one oftheir hands. As will be made more clear, the cover 2210 is not actuallynecessary for the operation of the touch sensor 220, and so, the cover2210 could be omitted, possibly leaving the conductive pads visible2250. However, inclusion of the cover 2210 is preferred for aestheticreasons and to provide some degree of protection of the conductive pads2250 from becoming physically worn and/or being subjected to corrosion(or other destructive chemical process), such that there sensitivity tothe proximity of a tip of a digit is degraded over time. The inclusionof the cover 2210 is also preferred to provide a sufficientlyelectrically resistant barrier between a tip of a digit and theconductive pads 2250 as to at least reduce the likelihood or magnitudeof instances of electrostatic discharge into one or more of theconductive pads that may damage the controller 2500, which is coupled tothe conductive pads 2250. Further, the cover may be formed from amaterial chosen to provide a surface over which a tip of a finger may bemoved with minimal physical resistance despite the natural texturing ofthe tips of typical human digits and despite instances where highhumidity and/or the presence of perspiration may otherwise act to causea tip of a digit to “stutter” in a repetitively jerking-like motion as aperson moves a tip of a digit across the touch-sensitive surface 225.

In some variations, the conductive pads 2250 are “sandwiched” betweenthe cover 2210 and the substrate 2215 in a manner in which theconductive pads 2250 are in direct contact with both such that there areno gaps of air therebetween. Layering the cover 2210 over the substrate2215 and the conductive pads 2250 in a manner that does not leave airgaps therebetween serves to enhance accuracy in the detection of theclose proximity of a tip of a digit by removing the possibility ofrelatively large alterations in the inherent capacitance of one or moreof the conductive pads 2250 through direct exposure to moisture (e.g.,relatively high humidity in the surrounding air or water droplets put indirect contact with one or more of the conductive pads 2250 from eithercondensation or a user's perspiration). In other variations, anothercovering material (not shown) is formed over the conductive pads 2250 atthe time that substrate 2215 is formed with the conductive pads 2250thereon, the cover 2210 is positioned over this covering material, andthis covering material provides much of the protection against wearingof the pads and exposure to moisture or other damaging substances. Byway of example, where the substrate 2215 is a PCB and the conductivepads 2250 are formed as part of a copper layer of that PCB, it is commonpractice to coat portions of a surface of a PCB with a partiallytransparent layer of material meant to protect outermost copper layers(e.g., a remaining portion of a solder mask layer). Since the proximityof a tip of a digit is sensed by each of the conductive pads 2250 as anincrease in capacitance formed through the cover 2210 (and perhapsthrough another covering material, if present), it is preferred that thecover 2210 be a relatively thin sheet of material and it is preferredthat the cover 2210 (and whatever other covering material may bepresent) have a relatively high dielectric constant (at least incomparison to air) to enable better capacitive coupling between a tip ofa digit and each of the conductive pads 2250.

In this capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220, the shapeand location of the racetrack surface 250 on the touch-sensitive surface225 provided by the cover 2210 is at least partly defined by therectangular loop (ring shape) formed by the locations of the conductivepads 2250 (the touch-sensitive surface 225 being defined on the side ofthe cover 2210 facing away from the side of the cover 2210 that facestowards the conductive pads 2250). In other words, the shape andlocation of the racetrack surface 250 follows the rectangular ring shapeformed by how the conductive pads 2250 are positioned on the substrate2215. This rectangular ring shape provides the racetrack surface 250with an outer boundary 250 x that defines the periphery of the racetracksurface 250, and an inner boundary 250 z that defines the periphery ofthe area surrounded by the racetrack surface 250. As will be discussedin greater detail, it is intended that a user engage the racetracksurface 250 by moving the position 260 at which a tip of a digitoverlies a portion of the racetrack surface 250 along the racetracksurface 250, and substantially between the outer boundary 250 x and theinner boundary 250 z. As will also be discussed in greater detail, oneor more mechanisms may be employed to distinguish such engagement of theracetrack surface 250 at locations substantially between theseboundaries by the user from other actions by the user that may otherwisebe mistaken for such engagement of the racetrack surface 250.

The controller 2500 monitors the level of capacitance of each of theconductive pads 2250 on a recurring basis (e.g., at an interval oftypically less than a second in length) to determine the relativeproximities of a tip of a digit to each of the conductive pads 2250. Asthose skilled in the art of capacitive sensing technology will readilyrecognize, a closer proximity of a portion of a person's body (such as atip of one of their digits) to a conductive pad of a capacitive sensorgenerally corresponds to a higher capacitance being added to whateverinherent capacitance that conductive pad already has without thatportion of that person's body in that close proximity. The controller2500 compares (also on a recurring basis) those detected relativeproximities of each of the conductive pads 2250 to that tip of thatdigit (as indicated by the relative levels of additional capacitanceimparted to each of those conductive pads 2250 by their relativeproximities to that tip) to determine the current position 260 of thattip along the racetrack surface 250. As that tip of that digit is movedabout this rectangular ring shape configuration of the racetrack surface250, whichever ones of the conductive pads 2250 in this rectangular ringshape that are overlain by the position 260 of that tip along theracetrack surface 250 are provided with a greater capacitance by theirrelatively close proximity to that tip as compared to others of theconductive pads 2250.

As is more clearly depicted in FIG. 13 b, each of the conductive pads2250 is made up of a central region 2251 and multiple pointed teeth 2252that extend outwardly from the central region 2251 towards adjacent onesof the conductive pads 2250. The teeth 2252 of adjacent pairs of theconductive pads 2250 mesh in a manner somewhat akin to gear teeth ofengaged gears. As is depicted, each of the conductive pads 2250 has oneof three possible shapes, depending on its location. More specifically,there are four corner-type conductive pads 2250 p, four midpoint-typeconductive pads 2250 r, and eight interposer-type conductive pads 2250q. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 13 a, it is preferred that eachof these three types of conductive pads 2250 p, 2250 q and 2250 r areshaped and positioned to create four symmetrical sides in the overalllayout of the conductive pads 2250 (each side corresponding to one ofthe four sides 250 a-d of the racetrack surface 250), such that there issymmetry between the conductive pads 2250 defining the sides 250 a and250 b of the racetrack surface 250, and between the conductive pads 2250defining the sides 250 c and 250 d.

As those familiar with so-called “slider” controls based on capacitivesensing technology will readily recognize, the enmeshed teeth 2252 ofadjacent pairs of the conductive pads 2250 enable each adjacent pair ofthe conductive pads 2250 to be operable as a “slider” control. Morespecifically, as a tip of a user's digit is slid across an adjacent pairof the conductive pads 2250 from being positioned to overlie the centralregion 2251 of one of the conductive pads 2250 towards being positionedto overlie the central region 2251 of the other, that tip moves over theenmeshed teeth 2252 between the pair of the conductive pads 2250. Asthat tip of that digit moves over those enmeshed teeth 2252, the surfacearea of the teeth 2252 of one of the pair of the conductive pads 2250underlying that tip progressively decreases while the surface area ofthe teeth 2252 of the other of the pair of the conductive pads 2250underlying that tip progressively increases. This has the effect ofcausing the capacitance added by the proximity of that tip to the one ofthe pair of conductive pads 2250 to progressively decrease as thecapacitance added by the proximity of that tip to the other of the pairof conductive pads 2250 progressively increases. In monitoring thecapacitance of each of the conductive pads 2250 in this pair of theconductive pads 2250, the controller 2500 is able to use this relativelygradual and smoothly changing proportion of additional capacitancesadded to each one of this pair of the conductive pads 2250 to determinethe location 260 of that tip of that digit between the central regions2251 of each one of this pair of the conductive pads 2250 with anappreciable degree of accuracy.

With the conductive pads 2250 arranged in the generally rectangularconfiguration of the racetrack surface 250 (as depicted in FIG. 13 a), asingle continuous, rectangular, ring shaped loop of “slider” controlsis, in effect, created. It should, therefore, be noted that although atip of a digit of a user's hand may be positioned so as to besubstantially centered over only one, two or three of the conductivepads 2250, portions of that tip may also slightly overlie portions ofone or two further ones of the conductive pads 2250 that are adjacent tothe one, two or three of the conductive pads 2250 over which that tip issubstantially centered. Although this usually depends on the relativesizes of the surface areas of each of the conductive pads 2250 and thesurface area able to be covered by that tip of a digit, situations canalso arise where a user positions more than just that tip of a digitover the touch sensor 220 such that a substantial length of that digitoverlies multiple ones of the conductive pads 2250. To accommodateeither situation, the controller 2500 may be configured (perhaps througha sequence of instructions stored within a storage of the controller2500 and executed by a processing device within the controller 2500) toemploy the changing proportions of additional capacitance imparted bythe close proximity of a tip of a digit to more than just one, two orthree adjacent ones of the conductive pads 2250 (e.g., perhaps four orfive adjacent ones of the conductive pads) to determine the location 260of that tip relative to the central regions 2251 of multiple adjacentones of the conductive pads 2250. Further, as those skilled in the artof capacitive sensing of the proximity of a portion of a person's bodywill readily recognize, the controller 2500 may be configured to imposea minimum capacitance threshold on each of the conductive pads 2250(either a single threshold common to all of the conductive pads 2250, orperhaps different thresholds for each of the conductive pads 2250) thatmust be exceeded for the controller 2500 to be caused to recognize theadditional capacitance imparted to any one of conductive pads 2250 as anindication of the proximity of a tip of a digit.

FIG. 13 c depicts an example of operation of this variant of the touchsensor 220 by a user in which the position 260 of a tip of a digit ofthat user's hand initially overlies the enmeshed teeth 2252 of a firstone of the interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q and the midpoint-typeconductive pad 2250 r that correspond to the side 250 b of the racetracksurface 250. Then, as depicted, the user moves that tip along the side250 b in the direction indicated by the darkened arrows such that theposition 260 of that tip of that digit overlies the central region 2251of that midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r; then further to overlie theenmeshed teeth 2252 of that midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r and thesecond one of the interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q of the side 250b; then further to overlie the central region 2251 of that secondinterposer-type conductive pad 2250 q; then further to overlie theenmeshed teeth 2252 of that second interposer-type conductive pad 2250 qand the corner-type conductive pad 2250 p corresponding to the cornerwhere the sides 250 b and 250 d meet; and then further to overlie thecentral region 2251 of that corner-type conductive pad 2250 p.

With that tip of that digit initially overlying the enmeshed teeth 2252of the first interposer-type conductive pad 2250 q and the midpoint-typeconductive pad 2250 r corresponding to the side 250 b, the controller2500 detects a relatively high additional capacitance imparted to bothof these two conductive pads by the close proximity of that tip (i.e.,as a result of the capacitive coupling of that tip to those enmeshedteeth 2252 of those two conductive pads at the initial location of theposition 260 overlying those enmeshed teeth 2252). It should be notedthat it is possible, even likely, that measurable amounts of additionalcapacitance will be imparted by the close proximity of that tip of thatdigit (and perhaps by other portions of that digit and/or the hand towhich that digit belongs) to others of the conductive pads 2250, perhapseven most or all of the other conductive pads. However, since that tipof that digit overlies these enmeshed teeth 2252 of these two particularconductive pads, the additional capacitance imparted to these twoparticular conductive pads is relatively high in comparison to therelatively low additional capacitance imparted to any of the others ofthe conductive pads 2250. The controller 2500 identifies which one orones of the conductive pads 2250 are overlain by the position 260 ofthat tip of that digit by identifying which one or ones of theconductive pads 2250 have the highest additional capacitance, andperhaps also through the use of a minimum capacitance threshold, asdiscussed earlier. Greater precision in determining the current locationof the position 260 of that tip of that digit is achieved by thecontroller 2500 comparing the levels of additional capacitance impartedto the one or more of the conductive pads 2250 that are identified ashaving the highest additional capacitance. For example, as depicted inFIG. 13 c, the position 260 of that tip is initially substantiallycentered over these enmeshed teeth 2252, and the controller 2500 is ableto determine that the position 260 of that tip along the side 250 b issubstantially centered over these enmeshed teeth 2252 by detecting thatthe relative high additional capacitances imparted to these twoconductive pads are relatively equal.

As the user moves the position 260 of that tip (in the manner describedat length, above) from overlying those enmeshed teeth 2252 and towardsoverlying the central region 2251 of the midpoint-type conductive pad2250 r corresponding to the side 250 b, the controller 2500 detects botha progressive lowering of the relatively high additional capacitanceimparted by that tip to the first interposer-type conductive pad 2250 qand a progressive rising of the relatively high additional capacitanceimparted by that tip to that midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r. Asthis corresponding lowering and rising of relatively high additionalcapacitances of these two conductive pads occurs, the controller 2500 isable to determine the position 260 of that tip along the side 250 bbetween the central regions 2251 of these two conductive pads by ananalysis of the changing proportion of relatively high additionalcapacitances imparted to each these two conductive pads by the closeproximity of that tip.

As that tip comes to substantially overlie the central region 2251 ofthat midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r, a relatively high additionalcapacitance begins to be imparted to the second interposer-typeconductive pad 2250 q of the side 250 b as a result of the manner inwhich its teeth 2252 reach towards the central region 2251 of thatmidpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r. The controller 2500 is able todetermine that the position 260 of that tip along the side 250 b issubstantially centered over the central region 2251 by detecting therelatively high additional capacitances imparted to that midpoint-typeconductive pad 2250 r and both of the interposer-type conductive pads2250 p, in which the relatively high additional capacitance imparted tothe midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r is the highest of these threerelatively high additional capacitances, and in which the relativelyhigh additional capacitances imparted to each of the interposer-typeconductive pads 2250 p are relatively equal. In other words, thecontroller 2500 identifies that midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r andthese two adjacent interposer-type conductive pads 2250 p as havingrelatively high additional capacitances while others of the conductivepads 2250 have relatively low additional capacitances, and thecontroller 2500 compares these relatively high additional capacitancesto more precisely determine the current position 260 of that digitrelative to these three conductive pads.

As the user moves the position 260 of that tip away from beingsubstantially centered over the central region 2251 of thatmidpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r (again, in the direction indicatedby the darkened arrows) and over the enmeshed teeth 2252 of thatmidpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r and the second interposer-typeconductive pad 2250 q of the side 250 b, the controller 2250 detects areduction in the relatively high capacitance imparted to thatmidpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r, detects a further reduction in therelatively high additional capacitance imparted to the firstinterposer-type conductive pad 2250 q, and detects a further increase inthe relatively high additional capacitance imparted to the secondinterposer-type conductive pad 2250 q. This progressive shifting ofwhich ones of these conductive pads along the side 250 b are providedwith the highest of the relatively high additional capacitances beingimparted due to the position 260 of that tip of a digit continues as theposition 260 of that tip continues to be moved along the side 250 btowards the corner where the sides 250 b and 250 d meet.

As that tip comes to substantially overlie the central region 2251 ofthat corner-type conductive pad 2250 p, a relatively high additionalcapacitance is imparted to the central region 2251 of that corner-typeconductive pad 2250 p, and to each of the two interposer-type conductivepads 2250 q adjacent that corner-type conductive pad 2250 p as a resultof the manner in which their teeth 2252 reach towards the central region2251 of that corner-type conductive pad 2250 p. Again, the controller2500 is able to determine that the position 260 of that tip in thatcorner where the sides 250 b and 250 d meet is substantially centeredover the central region 2251 of that corner-type conductive pad 2250 pby detecting that the relatively high additional capacitance imparted tothat corner-type conductive pad 2250 p is the highest of these threerelatively high additional capacitances, and that the relatively highadditional capacitances imparted to each of the two adjacentinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 p are relatively equal.

It is preferred that the surface areas of all of the conductive pads2250 of this capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 berelatively equal, despite their differing shapes. Having relativelyequal surface areas enables all of the conductive pads 2250 to haverelatively similar inherent capacitances such that the use of offset orweighting values to prepare the controller 2500 to compensate fordifferences in inherent capacitances among the conductive pads 2250 maybe rendered unnecessary, thereby simplifying any calculations employedby the controller 2500 in comparing capacitances between conductive pads2250 to determine the current position 260 of a tip of a user's digit.Having relatively equal surface areas also aids in ensuring that a tipof a particular digit of a user's hand will impart a relatively highadditional capacitance that is relatively equal to each of theconductive pads 2250 when its position 260 is substantially centeredover each of their central regions 2251, despite their differing shapes.As in the case of the inherent capacitances, having such additionalcapacitances being relatively equal serves to further simplifycalculations by enabling comparisons of additional capacitances amongthe conductive pads 2250 without the use of offset or weighting values.

Avoiding the use of offset or weighting values in calculations tosubtract inherent capacitances from total capacitances for each of theconductive pads 2250 to determine the amount of additional capacitancesimparted by a tip of a digit, in calculations to compare additionalcapacitances imparted to each of the conductive pads 2250 by a tip of adigit, and/or in calculations to compare total capacitances of each ofthe conductive pads 2250 to reduce their complexity may be deemeddesirable, especially where the touch sensor 220 is provided withelectric power from a power source of limited capacity (e.g., abattery). As those skilled in the art of computations implemented indigital logic will readily recognize, being able to reduce thecomplexity of a calculation may allow that calculation to be carried outby a given piece of digital logic at a slower clock speed (i.e., withthat given piece of digital logic being driven through each calculationstep at a reduced frequency) and/or may allow that calculation to becarried out by an alternate piece of digital logic of lesser complexity,either of which is likely to result in a lesser rate of consumption ofelectric power. Thus, where the touch sensor 220 is incorporated into aportable device (e.g., the handheld remote control 200 of FIG. 1, or oneof the more portable variants of the audio/visual device 100 of FIG. 5or FIG. 8), the calculations performed by the controller 2500 to detectthe additional capacitance associated with the close proximity of a tipof a digit and to determine the current position 260 of that tip of adigit will consume the limited available electric power at a lower rate.

Additionally and/or alternatively, having relatively equal surface areasacross all of the conductive pads 2250 may provide an opportunity tosimplify circuitry employed in monitoring the capacitance levels of theconductive pads 2250. As will be familiar to those skilled in the art ofcapacitive sensing technologies, a common approach to making recurringmeasurements of the capacitance of a conductive pad of a capacitivesensor is to employ the conductive pad as the capacitive element in a RCnetwork of an oscillator. Such an oscillator is then allowed to runfreely to provide clock pulses to a counter, where the value of thecount is checked and the counter is reset at regular intervals. Thecount reached by the counter during an interval corresponds to thecapacitance of the conductive pad during that interval. Employing thisapproach to monitoring all of the conductive pads 2250 of thiscapacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 requires making eachof the conductive pads 2250 a capacitive element of a separate RCnetwork of a separate oscillator accompanied by a separate counter. Somedegree of simplification of the implementation of so many RC networks,so many oscillators and so many counters may be enabled (e.g., aresistor network of multiple resistors of identical levels of resistancemay be employed) by having all of the conductive pads 2250 of the samesurface area such that their inherent capacitances are all relativelysimilar and such that each of the counts reached by each of theiroscillators in response to their inherent capacitances are the same (orat least substantially similar).

It is also preferred that each tooth 2252 of each of the conductive pads2250 be similar enough in its length (as measured from its base where itjoins with and protrudes from a central region to where it tapers to apoint-like end) and in its tapered shape that the rate at which levelsof additional capacitance decrease and increase is the same betweendifferent adjacent pairs of the conductive pads 2250 as a tip of a digitis moved across different adjacent pairs. Returning to the example ofoperation of the touch sensor 220 depicted in FIG. 3 c, as the position260 of the tip of a digit moves in the direction indicated by thedarkened arrows in a first transition from the midpoint-type conductivepad 2250 r to the second interposer-type conductive pad 2250 q, and thenin a second transition from that second interposer-type conductive pad2250 q to the corner-type conductive pad 2250 p, the rates of change inthe additional capacitances imparted to adjacent pairs of theseconductive pads are the same and remain relatively constant, presumingthat the user moves that tip in the direction of the darkened arrows ata constant speed. In other words, the rates at which additionalcapacitance imparted to the midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 rdecreases and the additional capacitance imparted to that secondinterposer-type conductive pad 2250 q increases in that first transitionfrom the midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r to that secondinterposer-type conductive pad 2250 q are relatively constant and arethe same as the rates at which additional capacitance imparted to thatsecond interposer-type conductive pad 2250 q decreases and theadditional capacitance imparted to the corner-type conductive pad 2250 pincreases in that second transition from that second interposer-typeconductive pad 2250 q to the corner-type conductive pad 2250 p.

Having rates of decrease and increase in additional capacitance that arethe same between any two adjacent ones of the conductive pads 2250 aidsin the reduction of complexity in the calculations employed indetermining the current position 260 of a tip of a digit. The use ofoffset or weighting values to compensate for different rates of changein additional capacitance for differing pairs of the conductive pads2250 (i.e., for differing ones of the “slider” controls formed bydiffering pairs of the conductive pads 2250) is made unnecessary.

As depicted in FIG. 13 b, the corner-type conductive pad 2250 p at thecorner at which the sides 250 b and 250 d meet incorporates two sets oftwo teeth, namely an outer tooth 2252 v and an inner tooth 2252 w. Eachof these two sets of two teeth 2252 v and 2252 w is enmeshed with acorresponding set of three teeth of an adjacent one of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q, namely an outer tooth 2252 x, atooth 2252 y and an inner tooth 2252 z. The outer teeth 2252 x and theinner teeth 2252 z of each of the adjacent ones of the interposer-typeconductive pads 2250 q are positioned along the outer boundary 250 x andthe inner boundary 250 z, respectively, of the rectangular ring shapeformed by the conductive pads 2250 that at least partly define therectangular ring shape of the racetrack surface 250 (i.e., the outerteeth 2252 x are positioned along the perimeter of that rectangular ringshape, and the inner teeth 2252 z are positioned along the perimeter ofthe area enclosed by the loop of that rectangular ring shape). The outerteeth 2252 v and the inner teeth 2252 w of this corner-type conductivepad 2250 p are inset from the outer boundary 250 x and the innerboundary 250 z, respectively, by being positioned adjacent sides of theouter teeth 2252 x and inner teeth 2252 z that are opposite the sides ofthe outer teeth 2252 x and the inner teeth 2252 z that are along theouter boundary 250 x and the inner boundary 250 z, respectively. Eachone of the teeth 2252 x-z that extend from adjacent ones of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q protrude into the central region2251 of this corner-type conductive pad 2250 p to a differing extent. Inso doing, matching ones of the teeth 2252 x-z of each of the adjacentones of the interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q protrude almost farenough into the central region 2251 as needed to intersect each other,such that the two outer teeth 2252 x almost intersect each other alongthe outer boundary 250 x, the two teeth 2252 y almost intersect eachother at about the center of the central region 2251 of this corner-typeconductive pad 2250 p, and the two inner teeth 2252 z almost intersecteach other along the inner boundary 250 z.

This enmeshing of multiple teeth extending from each one of theconductive pads 2250 towards each adjacent one of the conductive pads2250 provides at least separate enmeshed pairs teeth (i.e., an enmeshedpairing of one tooth from each of a pair of adjacent ones of theconductive pads 2250) along each of the outer boundary 250 z and theinner boundary 250 x. This creates “slider” controls that are able tofunction regardless of whether a user tends to move a tip of a digitalong about the rectangular ring shape of the racetrack surface 250 in amanner in which the position 260 of that tip tends to overlie only oneor the other of the outer boundary 250 x or the inner boundary 250 z, ortends to move that tip in a manner that tends to be more centeredbetween the outer and inner boundaries 250 x and 250 z. In other words,for example, it has been observed that some people tend to move a tip ofa digit about the racetrack surface 250 in a manner in which they tendto “ride” the periphery of the touch sensor 220, resulting in that tipfrequently overlying portions of the outer boundary 250 x. The extensionof the outer teeth 2252 x by each of the adjacent ones of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q along the outer boundary 250 x,and the extension of the outer teeth 2252 v by each of the corner-typeconductive pads 2250 p alongside corresponding ones of these outer teeth2252 x provides an enmeshed pair of teeth 2252 alongside the outerboundary 250 x between these two such conductive pads. Thus, there isstill a progressive decrease in additional capacitance imparted to oneof two such adjacent conductive pads and corresponding progressiveincrease in additional capacitance imparted to the other of two suchadjacent conductive pads despite a user tending to move the position 260of a tip of a digit in a manner that frequently overlies the outerboundary 250 x. The corresponding extension and enmeshing of inner teeth2252 z and inner teeth 2252 w provides a separate enmeshed pair of teeth2252 alongside the inner boundary 250 z between these same two suchconductive pads, thereby ensuring that there still is such a progressivedecrease and corresponding progressive increase in additionalcapacitance between two adjacent conductive pads despite a user tendingto move the position 260 of a tip of a digit in a manner that frequentlyoverlies the inner boundary 250 z. For users who tend to move theposition 260 of a tip of a digit about the racetrack surface 250 in amanner that is more centered between the outer and inner boundaries 250x and 250 z, the extension and enmeshing of corresponding ones of theteeth 2252 y with each of the outer teeth 2252 v and inner teeth 2252 wmakes possible such a progressive decrease and corresponding progressiveincrease in additional capacitance between two adjacent conductive pads.

The deep protrusions to differing extents into the central region 2251of each of the corner-type conductive pads 2250 p by multiple teeth ofadjacent ones of the interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q ensure thata progressive decrease and corresponding progressive increase inadditional capacitance occurs as a tip of a digit is moved between oneof the corner-type conductive pads 2250 p and an adjacent one of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q, regardless of whether aparticular user tends to “ride” the outer boundary 250 x, “ride” theinner boundary 250 z, or tends to center the position 260 of that tipbetween the outer and inner boundaries 250 x and 250 z. Most especially,the deepest protrusions into the central region 2251 of each of thecorner-type conductive pads 2250 p that are made by the outer teeth 2252x of adjacent ones of the interposer-type conductive pads ensures thatthere is no “dead zone” in the central region 2251 of the corner-typeconductive pads 2250 p towards the outer corner formed in the outerboundary 250 x such that the position 260 of a tip of a digit could bemoved about in that outer corner by a user without there beingsufficient sensitivity to detect that movement.

The fact that each one of the corner-type conductive pads 2250 p extendthe same quantity of teeth towards each of its adjacent ones of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q, and the fact that the teethextending towards one of those adjacent interposer-type conductive pads2250 q have shapes and dimensions that mirror the teeth extendingtowards the other of those adjacent interposer-type conductive pads 2250q provides a symmetry of shape and surface area. This physical symmetryof these particular teeth provides a symmetry in the manner in whichmovement between each one of the corner-type conductive pads 2250 p andeach of its adjacent interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q is sensed,and thereby, responded to. In other words, this symmetry allows thesensitivity of the touch sensor 220 in detecting movement between acorner-type conductive pad 2250 p and one of its adjacentinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q to be identical to thesensitivity of the touch sensor 220 in detecting movement between thesame corner-type conductive pad 2250 p and the other one of its adjacentinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q. More precisely, thecharacteristics of the resulting progressive decrease and correspondingincrease in additional capacitance arising from movement between thatcorner-type conductive pad 2250 p and either of the adjacentinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q are the same.

As also depicted in FIG. 13 b, the midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 rof the side 250 b incorporates its own variants of two sets of both anouter tooth 2252 v and an inner tooth 2252 w. Also, each of these twosets of two teeth 2252 v and 2252 w is enmeshed with a correspondingvariant of a set of three teeth 2252 x, 2252 y and 2252 z of an adjacentone of the interposer type conductive pads 2250 q. In this variant ofthese three teeth, the outer teeth 2252 x and the inner teeth 2252 z arealso positioned along the outer boundary 250 x and the inner boundary250 z, respectively. And, in this variant of these two teeth, the outerteeth 2252 v and the inner teeth 2252 w of this midpoint-type conductivepad are inset from the outer boundary 250 x and the inner boundary 250z, respectively. The teeth 2252 y that extend from adjacent ones of theinterposer-type conductive pads 2250 q protrude almost far enough intothe central region 2251 of this midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r asneeded to meet and cut that central region 2251 in two. In contrast, theouter teeth 2252 x and the outer teeth 2252 z that extend from adjacentones of the interposer-type conductive pads 2250 q both protrude intothis central region 2251 to a lesser extent.

This difference between the extent to which the teeth 2252 y protrudeinto the central region 2251 of this midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 rand the extent to which both the outer teeth 2252 x and the inner teeth2252 y protrude into that central region reflects an effort to achieve adesired balance of multiple characteristics in the behavior of thiscapacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220. As previouslydescribed, it may be deemed desirable to have all of the conductive pads2250 sized to have the same surface area to reduce the complexity ofcalculations in making comparisons of levels of capacitance indetermining the current location of the position 260 of a tip of a digitalong the racetrack surface 250. Thus, regardless of whatever shape isgiven the midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r, it is desired that it'ssurface area be the same as for the other two types. As has also beendescribed, it is desired to avoid creating a “dead zone” in which itwould be possible for the position 260 of a tip of a digit to be movedabout a portion of one of the conductive pads 2250 without there beingsufficient sensitivity to sense that movement. And it has been explainedas being desirable to avoid having such a “dead zone” arise regardlessof whether a user tends to move a tip of a digit in a manner that“rides” the outer boundary 250 x, “rides” the inner boundary 250 z orstays relatively centered between these two boundaries. However, whilethe corner position of the corner-type conductive pads 2250 p easilylends itself to the formation of such a “dead zone” towards their outercorners formed in the outer boundary 250 x, the risk of creating such a“dead zone” amidst a portion of the midpoint-type conductive pads 2250 ris not as great. Therefore, the teeth 2252 y protrude more deeply intothe central region 2251 of this midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r topreclude the formation of such a “dead zone” within this central region2251, while the outer teeth 2252 x and the inner teeth 2252 y protrudeless deeply into this central region 2251 to allow this central region2251 enough room between the outer boundary 250 x and the inner boundary250 z to enable the overall surface area of this midpoint-typeconductive pad 2250 r to be relatively equal to the surface areas of theothers of the conductive pads 2250.

As is clear from viewing FIGS. 13 a-c, along each of the four sides 250a, 250 b, 250 c and 250 d of the racetrack surface 250, the lengths ofeach of the four segments making up the outer boundary 250 x of each ofthese four sides are greater than the lengths of each of the foursegments of the inner boundary of each of these four sides. This followsnaturally where the racetrack surface 250 is generally rectangular inshape and from the inner boundary 250 z being concentrically positionedwithin the outer boundary 250 x. Thus, for example, the length of theouter boundary 250 x of the side 250 b is greater than the length of theinner boundary 250 z of the side 250 b. As is also clear from viewingFIGS. 13-c, within the side 250 b, there is also generally acorresponding difference in the lengths of the teeth 2252 positionedcloser to the outer boundary 250 x versus those positioned closer to theinner boundary 250 z. More precisely, the outer teeth 2252 x are eachlonger than the inner teeth 2252 z that belong to the same conductivepad 2250, and the outer teeth 2252 v are each longer than the innerteeth 2252 w that belong to the same conductive pad 2250. In fact, theteeth 2252 that are closer to the outer boundary 250 x are longer thanthe teeth 2252 that are closer to the inner boundary 250 z in a mannerthat is generally proportional to the difference in the lengths of theouter boundary 250 x in comparison to the inner boundary 250 z along theside 250 b.

This proportionality in tooth lengths enables the preferred constancy ofthe rates at which additional capacitances progressively decrease andcorrespondingly progressively increase between differing adjacent pairsof the conductive pads 2250, regardless of whether a tip of a digit ismoved about the racetrack surface 250 in a manner that tends to overliethe outer boundary 250 x, tends to overlie the inner boundary 250 z, ortends to remain more centered between the outer and inner boundaries 250x and 250 z, respectively. In other words, where a user tends to move atip of a digit about the racetrack surface 250 in a manner that “rides”the outer boundary 250 x, the proportionately longer teeth positionedcloser to the outer boundary 250 x ensure that the rates of decrease andincrease of additional capacitance between each adjacent pair of theconductive pads 2250 remains constant during that movement. The longerlength of travel that will be followed by that user's digit as its tiptends to overlie the outer boundary 250 x necessarily means that therates of decrease and increase in additional capacitance will be moregradual than if the user's tip were tending to overlie the innerboundary 250 z, but these rates of decrease and increase along the outerboundary 250 x will be the same between any two adjacent ones of theconductive pads 2250.

Unfortunately, such efforts as have been described to avoid the use ofoffset or weighting values in measuring capacitances and/or performingcapacitance calculations by providing all of the conductive pads 2250with shapes that result in relatively equal surface areas can be undoneby other factors having little to do with the design of any of theconductive pads 2250. By way of example, where the substrate 2215 isgenerally ring shaped to enable other manually-operable controls (e.g.,the navigation buttons 270 a-d and the selection button 280 depicted inFIGS. 7 b and 8) to be located so as to be surrounded by the racetracksurface 250 (as has been discussed in regard to FIG. 10 a), it may notbe possible to position the controller 2500 relative to the conductivepads 2250 such that conductive traces by which the controller 2500 iscoupled to each of the conductive pads 2250 are able to all be of thesame length. As those skilled in the art of shaping and routingconductors in a manner meant to control capacitances, longer runs ofconductors tend to have different capacitances in comparison to shorterruns of conductors, unless there is an opportunity to in some wayconfigure the longer and shorter runs, differently to balance theirrelative capacitances. Thus, it may be that differing lengths ofconductors between the controller 2500 and each of the conductive pads2250 ultimately necessitates the use of offset or weight values despitewhatever care may be taken in the design of the conductive pads 2250,themselves.

In some implementations of this capacitive sensing variant of the touchsensor 220, weighting values for at least some of the conductive pads2250 may be employed in calculations to compare levels of total oradditional capacitance of adjacent ones of the conductive pads 2250 todetermine the current position 260 of a tip of a finger between theircentral regions 2251 (i.e., over enmeshed ones of their teeth 2252) withgreater precision. Such weighting values may be derived through acalibration of the controller 2500 in which the one conductive pad 2250with the highest inherent capacitance is identified, and thencomparisons are made between the inherent capacitance of that oneconductive pads 2250 and all of the other conductive pads 2250.

It should be noted that although FIG. 13 a depicts there being five ofthe conductive pads 2250 along each of the sides 250 a-d (including thecorner-type conductive pads 2250 p that are shared between adjacent onesof the sides 250 a-d where they meet at the corners of the racetracksurface 250), alternate implementations of this capacitive sensingvariant of the touch sensor 220 are possible in which other quantitiesof the conductive pads 2250 are employed. Indeed, other implementationsare possible in which the sides 250 a and 250 b may be of differentlengths from the sides 250 c and 250 d, and accordingly, a differentquantity of the conductive pads 2250 are incorporated into the sides 250a and 250 b from the quantity of the conductive pads 2250 that areincorporated into the sides 250 c and 250 d. As will be understood bythose familiar with capacitive sensing technologies, although each ofthe sides 250 a-d could have been implemented with a lesser quantity ofthe conductive pads 2250 than is depicted in FIGS. 13 a-c, thus enablinga considerable simplification in the controller 2500 (and/or othercomponents), such simplification would come at the cost of reducedaccuracy in determining the current position 260 of the tip of a digit.Depending on the quantity of menu items 155 displayed along each of thesides 150 a-d of the racetrack menu 150, such a reduction in accuracymay make operation of the user interface 1000 to select a particular oneof the menu items 155 undesirably difficult for a user.

In considering the comparing of levels of additional capacitanceimparted by a the proximity of a tip of a digit, it should be noted thatthe touch sensor 220 is a touch-sensitive sensor in spite of the cover2210 preventing any tip of any digit from actually making contact withany of the conductive pads 2250, and in spite of this variant ofcapacitive sensing technology applied to this variant of the touchsensor 220 being unable to actually sense a physical contact with thecover 2210. As those skilled in the art will readily recognize, thevariant of capacitive sensing technology being employed in this variantof the touch sensor 220 is actually a sensing of the proximity of a tipof a digit of a user's hand, and not a sensing of contact with that tipor of pressure applied by that tip. What makes the touch sensor 220validly classifiable as “touch-sensitive” (i.e., what makes thetouch-sensitive surface 225 provided by the cover 2210 sensitive totouch) is that the dielectric characteristics of a tip of a digit of aperson's hand are such that the amount of additional capacitance that atip of a digit of a person's hand is ever capable of imparting to any ofthe conductive pads 2250 is relatively small, and perhaps the impositionof a minimum capacitance threshold that renders the touch sensor 220substantially unresponsive to a tip of a digit that is not close enoughto be in contact with the cover 2210. Thus, a tip of a digit must bebrought into contact with the cover 2210 (i.e., must actually touch thetouch-sensitive surface 225) to be close enough to one or more of theconductive pads 2250 to impart a large enough capacitance to be reliablydetectable, at all, and to perhaps meet a minimum capacitance thresholdemployed to distinguish such contact from other influences (e.g.,electrostatic discharges, components of the device into which the touchsensor 220 is installed that have particular dielectric characteristics,etc.) that are also capable of imparting some measurable degree ofcapacitance. Thus, it is the imposed necessity of a tip of a digittouching the touch sensor 220 to operate it that makes the touch sensor220 “touch sensitive” such that the cover 2210 can be said to providethe touch-sensitive surface 225.

With the identifying of which one or ones of the conductive pads 2250have the highest additional capacitances and the more precisedetermining of the current position 260 of a tip of a digit having beendone by the controller 2500, the controller 2500 either directly acts inresponse to the current position 260 of that tip or relays the currentposition 260 of that tip to another component or device. Where the touchsensor 220 is incorporated directly into an audio/visual device thatalso incorporates the controller 500, the controller 2500 and thecontroller 500 may be one and the same controller such that a singlecontroller both directly determines the current position 260 of that tipand performs the various other functions previously described as beingperformed by the controller 500 in response to that current position 260(as was earlier discussed with regard to FIG. 9). This may be the casein such audio/visual devices as the variants of the audio/visual device100 of FIG. 1, 5 or 8, where both audio/visual presentation functionsand touch sensing functions are performed within the same casing.Alternatively, where the touch sensor 220 is incorporated into a devicethat is physically separate from an audio/visual device that performsaudio/visual presentation functions and/or functions that entail thereceipt of audio/visual programs, the controller 2500 may be separateand distinct from such a controller as the controller 500 of FIGS. 4 and9 such that the controller 2500 relays an indication of the currentposition 260 to that other controller. This may be the case where thetouch sensor 220 is incorporated into such a device as one of thevariants of the handheld remote control 200 of FIG. 1 or 7 b. As analternative to the controller 2500 relaying the current position 260 toanother controller (e.g., the controller 500) where the two controllersare not one and the same, the controller 2500 may directly relay currentcapacitance levels of each of the conductive pads 2250 on a recurringbasis to the other controller, thereby allowing the other controller toperform the function of determining the current position 260.

FIG. 14 depicts an alternate form of the corner-type conductive pad 2250p of FIGS. 13 a-c. In this alternate form, it is the corner-typeconductive pad 2250 p that extends a variant of the set of three teeth(namely an outer tooth 2252 x, a tooth 2252 y and an inner tooth 2252 z)towards each conductive pad adjacent to it, whether that be themidpoint-type conductive pad 2250 r, a variant of the interposer-typeconductive pad 2250 q, or still some other form of conductive pad (notshown). Whatever the type of the other conductive pads adjacent to thisalternate form of the corner-type conductive pad 2250 p, the three teeth2252 x-z of this alternate form and the central region 2251 of thisalternate form are shaped to enable enmeshing with two teeth from eachof the other conductive pads. Further, as was the case with thecorner-type conductive pad 2252 p of FIGS. 13 a-c, this alternate formis shaped to enable matching ones of each of the two teeth from each ofthe adjacent other conductive pads to protrude into the central region2251 of this alternate almost far enough to intersect. And stillfurther, as was the case with the corner-type conductive pad 2252 p ofFIGS. 13 a-c, this alternate form is shaped to enable one of the twoteeth from each of the adjacent other conductive pads to protrude intothe central region 2251 far enough towards the outer corner of thisalternate form of the corner-type conductive pad to prevent theformation of a “dead zone” in the outer corner in which movement of theposition 260 of a tip of a digit would be possible in the outer cornerwithout being detected due to a lack of sufficient sensitivity.

FIGS. 15 a, 15 b and 15 c, taken together, depict additional details ofan alternate form of the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor220 of FIGS. 13 a-c having a mechanism to aid in distinguishingoperation of the racetrack surface 250 by a user from operation of otheradjacent manually-operable controls (e.g., the additionalmanually-operable controls 222, 224, 226 and 228 depicted in FIGS. 7 band 8) by the user. FIG. 15 a depicts the relative positions of variousadditional components of this alternate form of capacitive sensingvariant of the touch sensor 220. FIG. 15 b provides an enlarged view ofa subset of various components of this alternate form. FIG. 15 c depictsvarious aspects of the use of this alternate form in a variant of thehandheld remote control 200. In addition to incorporating the variouscomponents described in reference to FIGS. 13 a-c, this alternate formof the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 of FIGS. 13a-c further incorporates a pair of conductive rings 2270.

Of the pair of conductive rings 2270, an outer ring 2270 x follows andsurrounds the rectangular ring shape formed by the conductive pads 2250(i.e., follows and surrounds the perimeter of that rectangular loop),and an inner ring 2270 z follows and is just inside that rectangularring shape (i.e., follows and is just inside the perimeter of the areasurrounded by the rectangular loop). Thus, the conductive rings 2270cooperate with the conductive pads 2250 in defining the rectangular ringshape of the racetrack surface 250. As a result, the outer boundary 250x now follows the periphery of the outer ring 2270 x, and the innerboundary 250 z now follows and is just inside of the inner conductivering 2270 z. In other words, the distance between the outer boundary 250x and the inner boundary 250 z is widened (in comparison to what it wasin FIGS. 13 a-c) to add the conductive rings 2270 therebetween.

As depicted, the conductive rings 2270 are disposed on the same surfaceof the substrate 2215 as the conductive pads 2250. The cover 2210 islayered over the conductive rings 2270, in very much the same way as itis layered over the conductive pads 2250, with the result that theconductive rings 2270 are “sandwiched” between at least the cover 2210and the substrate 2215 in much the same way as the conductive pads 2250.The controller 2500 monitors the level of capacitance of each of theconductive rings 2270 on a recurring basis (just as the controller 2500monitors the level of capacitance of each of the conductive pads 2250)to detect the proximities of each of the conductive rings 2270 x and2270 z to a tip of a digit of a user's hand.

As has been previously discussed, one of the features of the userinterface 1000 is that the racetrack menu 150 may be caused to bedisplayed in response to a user simply placing a tip of a digit on theracetrack surface 250 defined on the touch sensor 220. Where theracetrack surface 250 is provided by a capacitive-sensing variant of thetouch sensor 220 in a manner and at a position on a casing of a devicethat does not result in other manually-operable controls beingpositioned adjacent to the racetrack surface 250, it is relativelyunlikely that a user will bring a portion of a digit of one of theirhands into contact with the racetrack surface 250 inadvertently whileattempting to use that digit to operate some other manually-operablecontrol. However, as has been previously depicted and discussed, thetouch sensor 220 may be disposed on a casing of a device at a locationthat is in close proximity to other manually-operable controls in amanner such as is depicted in FIGS. 7 b and 8, where othermanually-operable controls may be positioned relatively close to theouter boundary 250 x (e.g., the manually-operable controls 222, 224, 226and 228) and/or within the area surrounded by the inner boundary 250 z(e.g., the manually-operable controls 270 a-d and 280). As has also beenpreviously depicted and discussed, variants of the touch sensor 220 arepossible that provide a form of the touch-sensitive surface 225 on whichother control surfaces in addition to the racetrack surface 250 aredefined as an alternate implementation of manually-operable controls(i.e., an alternative to manually-operable controls that are entirelyseparate from the touch sensor 220), such as the navigation surfaces 270a-d and the selection surface 280 specifically depicted in FIGS. 10 band 12.

Thus, it is possible that a user may extend a tip of a digit towards amanually-operable control (whether it is a separate manually-operablecontrol or a control surface defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225)positioned adjacent to a portion of the racetrack surface 250 with theintention of operating only that manually-operable control, but theclose proximity of that tip or another portion of that digit may comeclose enough to that portion of the racetrack surface 250 to impartsufficient additional capacitance to one or more of the conductive pads2250 that the controller 2500 may be caused to misinterpret the user'sactions as interaction by the user with the racetrack surface 250. Thiscould occur despite the imposition of minimum capacitance threshold forthe conductive pads 2250. Such a situation is likely to arise where auser holds a portable form of a device into which the touch sensor 220is incorporated (e.g., one of the earlier-discussed portable variants ofthe audio/visual device 100 or one of the earlier-discussed variants ofthe handheld remote control 200) in one of their hands in a manner inwhich they tend to operate a manually-operable control that is in closeproximity to the racetrack surface 250 by extending a portion of one oftheir digits over a portion of the racetrack surface 250 to bring thetip of that digit into contact with that manually-operable control suchthat a sufficient amount of additional capacitance is imparted as tocause such a misinterpretation by the controller 2500.

Such a situation may also arise where a user is simply a bit “sloppy”about how they position the tip of a digit that they use to operate amanually-operable control (whether it is entirely separate from thetouch sensor 220 or is a control surface defined on the touch-sensitivesurface 225 of the touch sensor 220) adjacent to the racetrack surface250 to the extent that a portion of that tip overlies one or more of theconductive pads 2250, as well as the manually-operable control that theuser intended to operate. FIG. 15 b more clearly illustrates thissituation in which the position 260 of a tip of a user's digit may ormay not be neatly located over the midpoint-type conductive pad 2250 ralong the side 250 b of the racetrack surface 250 such that the position260 of that tip is centered between the outer boundary 250 x and theinner boundary 250 z. As can be seen, where the position 260 of that tipis not centered in that manner, the position 260 may overlie only one orthe other of the conductive rings 2270, and therefore, the fact of thattip not being centered in that manner is detectable via the conductiverings 2270.

FIG. 15 c illustrates the relative positions of the conductive rings2270, along with the outer boundary 250 x and the inner boundary 250 zof the racetrack surface 250, relative to the manually-operable controls222, 224, 226, 228, 270 a-d and 280 of the handheld remote control 200of FIG. 7 b. As can be seen, the close proximity of themanually-operable controls 222, 224, 226 and 228 to various portions ofthe outer boundary 250 x makes possible instances in which operation ofthese manually-operable controls may lead to a portion of a digit beingbrought into close enough proximity to one or more of the conductivepads 2250 for sufficient additional capacitance to be imparted to causea misinterpretation by the controller 2500. However, as can also beseen, the location of the outer conductive ring 2270 x along the outerboundary 250 x enables the outer conductive ring 2270 x to be employed(as will be explained) by the controller 2500 to aid in avoiding suchmisinterpretations. Similarly, it can be seen that the placement of themanually-operable controls 270 a-d and 280 within the area surrounded bythe racetrack surface 250, along with the close proximity of themanually-operable controls 270 a-d to the inner boundary 250 z, may alsolead to the imparting of sufficient additional capacitance to cause amisinterpretation by the controller 2500 as a portion of a digit mayoverlie a portion of the racetrack surface 250 as a user attempts tooperate one of the manually-operable controls 270 a-d or 280 with thetip of that digit. However, as can also be seen, the location of theinner conductive ring 2270 z along the inner boundary 250 z enables theinner conductive ring 2270 z to be employed (again, as will beexplained) by the controller 2500 to aid in avoiding suchmisinterpretations.

The result of such misinterpretations of a user's actions by thecontroller 2500 will usually be nothing more than the displaying of theracetrack menu 150 at times when the user did not need or want theracetrack menu 150 to be displayed. Since relatively greater pressuremust be applied to the racetrack surface 250 to actually select a menuitem 155 of the racetrack menu 150, inadvertent selections are unlikelyto occur unless the user is sufficiently sloppy in the manner in whichthey position the tip and/or another portion of a digit that they doapply sufficient pressure to the racetrack surface 250 while attemptingto operate another manually-operable control. However, even just theoccasional unwanted appearance of the racetrack menu 150 is notdesirable, and so an ability to more precisely distinguish between auser attempting to interact with the racetrack surface 250 and a userattempting to operate a manually-operable control (whether an entirelyseparate manually-operable control or a control surface defined on thetouch-sensitive surface 225) other than the racetrack surface 250 isdesirable.

In one approach to using the conductive rings 2270 to distinguish useroperation of the racetrack surface 250 from user operation of othermanually-operable controls, the controller 2500 simply compares anyadditional capacitance imparted to the outer conductive ring 2270 x toany additional capacitance imparted to the inner conductive ring 2270 zat recurring intervals. During intervals in which the additionalcapacitance imparted to both of these conductive rings 2270 isrelatively equal (i.e., during intervals where the additionalcapacitances imparted to these conductive rings 2270 are similar enoughto meet a predetermined threshold of similarity), amounts of additionalcapacitance imparted to one or more of the conductive pads 2250 areassumed to be indications of a user's efforts to interact with theracetrack surface 250, and the controller 2500 responds to thoseadditional capacitances in the manner that has been previouslydescribed, at length, including causing the racetrack menu 150 to bedisplayed, and moving the marker 160 about the racetrack menu 150 in amanner corresponding to the position 260 of the tip of a digit of auser's hand. The presumption is made that if a relatively equal amountof additional capacitance is imparted to each of the conductive rings2270, it must be due to a tip of a user's digit being positioned betweenthe conductive rings 2270, and therefore, is being positioned by theuser to interact with the racetrack surface 250. Further, duringintervals in which the additional capacitances imparted to theseconductive rings 2270 is relatively unequal (i.e., during intervalswhere the additional capacitances imparted to these conductive rings2270 is dissimilar enough to not meet the predetermined threshold ofsimilarity), the controller 2500 ignores any additional capacitancesimparted to the conductive pads 2250. Indeed, while the additionalcapacitances imparted to each of the conductive rings 2270 remainunequal to such an extent (i.e., not meeting the predetermined thresholdof similarity), the controller 2500 may reduce power consumption bydisabling and/or otherwise removing power from whatever oscillators,counters and/or other circuitry is employed in monitoring thecapacitance levels of the conductive pads 2250.

In another approach, the controller 2500 simply determines whether ornot separate minimum capacitance thresholds set for each of theconductive rings 2270 are met at recurring intervals to distinguish useroperation of the racetrack surface 250 from user operation of othermanually-operable controls. During intervals in which the additionalcapacitance imparted to both of these conductive rings 2270 is enough tomeet the separate minimum capacitance thresholds for each, amounts ofadditional capacitance imparted to one or more of the conductive pads2250 are assumed to be indications of a user's efforts to interact withthe racetrack surface 250. The presumption is made that if such amountsof additional capacitance are imparted to each of the conductive rings2270, it must be due to a tip of a user's digit being positioned betweenthe conductive rings 2270, and therefore, is being positioned by theuser to interact with the racetrack surface 250. Further, duringintervals in which the additional capacitances imparted to either ofthese conductive rings 2270 does not meet the separate minimumcapacitance threshold for that one of these conductive rings, thecontroller 2500 ignores any additional capacitances imparted to theconductive pads 2250, and the controller 2500 may reduce powerconsumption by disabling and/or otherwise removing power from whateveroscillators, counters and/or other circuitry is employed in monitoringthe capacitance levels of the conductive pads 2250.

In yet another approach, the additional capacitances imparted to any ofthe conductive pads 2250 may be treated by the controller 2500 as validindications of a user interacting with the racetrack surface 250 (andresponded to by the controller 2500, accordingly) even though theadditional capacitances imparted to each of the conductive rings 2270may be highly unequal. In this approach, any additional capacitancesimparted to each of the conductive rings 2270 are compared to anyadditional capacitances imparted to the conductive pads 2250 on arecurring basis. During intervals in which the additional capacitanceimparted to at least one of the conductive rings 2270 is does notexcessively exceed the highest additional capacitance imparted to any ofthe conductive pads 2250 (i.e., if the additional capacitance impartedto either of the conductive rings is not greater than the highestadditional capacitance imparted to any of the conductive pads 2250 by anamount that exceeds a predetermined threshold of difference), amounts ofadditional capacitance imparted to one or more of the conductive pads2250 are assumed to be indications of a user's efforts to interact withthe racetrack surface 250. The presumption is made that such conditionswill only be met if a user has positioned the tip of a digit such thatit overlies portions of at least one of the conductive rings 2270 and atleast one of the conductive pads 2250 to such an extent that more ofthat tip must overlie those portions of at least one of the conductiverings 2270 and at least one of the conductive pads 2250 than overliesany other manually-operable control that may be adjacent to theracetrack surface 250. Further, during intervals in which the additionalcapacitance imparted to one of the conductive rings 2270 sufficientlyexceeds the highest additional capacitance imparted to any of theconductive pads 2250 (i.e., during intervals where the additionalcapacitance imparted to one of the conductive rings 2270 is greater thanthe highest additional capacitance imparted to any of the conductivepads by an amount that does exceed the threshold of difference), thecontroller 2500 ignores any additional capacitances imparted to theconductive pads 2250. The presumption is made that such conditions willonly be met if a user has positioned a tip of a digit at a locationadjacent to the racetrack surface 250 (presumably to operate anothermanually-operable control) that is close enough to the racetrack surface250 to impart a relatively large additional capacitance to the closestone of the conductive rings, but not close enough to the racetracksurface 250 to impart a similarly large additional capacitance to any ofthe conductive pads 2250.

This other approach may be further refined by providing a differentthreshold of difference in additional capacitance for at least some ofthe conductive pads 2250 located relatively close to anothermanually-operable control from the threshold of difference in additionalcapacitance that is provided to at least some of the conductive pads2250 that are not located relatively close to another manually-operablecontrol. For example, and referring to both FIGS. 15 b and 15 c, a firstthreshold of difference in additional capacitance may be employed in acomparison of addition capacitances imparted to one of the conductivepads 2250 along the side 250 d and to the outer conductive ring 2270 x,while a second threshold of difference in additional capacitance may beemployed in a comparison of additional capacitances imparted to one ofthe conductive pads 2250 along the side 250 b and the outer conductivering 2270 x. With there being no other manually-operable controlsadjacent to the outer boundary 250 x along the side 250 d, there isclearly little likelihood of a misinterpretation of an additionalcapacitance being imparted to a conductive pad 2250 along the side 250 das a result of a user tending to position the tip of a digit along theouter boundary 250 x on the side 250 d while trying to operate anothermanually-operable control. Thus the threshold of the difference inadditional capacitance by which the amount of additional capacitanceimparted to the outer ring 2270 x may be greater than the amount ofadditional capacitance imparted to a conductive pad 2250 within the side250 d may be allowed to be relatively great. In contrast, with themanually-operable controls 226 and 228 being adjacent to the outerboundary 250 x along the side 250 b, there is far greater likelihood ofa misinterpretation of an additional capacitance being imparted to aconductive pad 2250 along the side 250 b as a result of a user tendingto position the tip of a digit along the outer boundary 250 x on theside 250 b while trying to operate another manually-operable control.Thus the threshold of the difference in additional capacitance by whichthe amount of additional capacitance imparted to the outer ring 2270 xmay be greater than the amount of additional capacitance imparted to aconductive pad 2250 within the side 250 b must be made narrower so thatmore of the tip of a digit must overlie at least one of the conductivepads 2250 of the side 250 b to impart sufficient additional capacitanceto it to more closely match the additional capacitance imparted to theouter ring 2270 x to thereby meet the narrower threshold.

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 15 a-b, the surface areas of the outerconductive ring 2270 x and the inner conductive ring 2270 z are likelyto be very different from each other, and the surface areas of either ofthese two conductive rings 2270 are likely to be very different from thesurface areas of any of the conductive pads 2250. Where each of theconductive pads 2250 and each of the conductive rings 2270 are employedas a capacitive element in a RC network coupled to an oscillator as partof measuring their capacitances on a recurring basis, it may be thatoffset and/or weighting values are employed to enable comparisons ofadditional capacitances between each of the conductive rings 2270 andeach of the conductive pads 2250, or it may be that differingcalibrations of each of the conductive rings 2270 in comparison to theconductive pads 2250 are employed. More precisely, the calculationsemployed by the controller 2500 to compare additional capacitances ofeither of the conductive rings 2270 to additional capacitances of any ofthe conductive pads 2250 may include one or more offset or weightingvalues to at least compensate for differing inherent capacitancesarising from differing surface areas. Alternatively, the resistancevalues employed in one or more of the RC networks for at least theconductive rings 2270 may be made to differ from the resistance valuesemployed in the RC networks for the conductive pads 2250, and/orcapacitors may be added in parallel with each of the conductive pads2250 to give each of the conductive pads 2250 an inherent capacitancesimilar to the inherent capacitance of at least one of the conductiverings 2270.

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b depict alternate aspects of the conductive rings2270. FIG. 16 a depicts a further modified form of the capacitivesensing variant of the touch sensor 220 of FIGS. 13 a-c in which someamount of surface area has been taken from each of the conductive pads2250 to make room for increasing the surface areas of one or both of theconductive rings 2270 introduced in regard to FIGS. 15 a-c. FIG. 16 bdepicts a resistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 in whichthe conductive rings 2270 are either employed in a resistance sensingmode or in a capacitive sensing mode.

As depicted in FIG. 16 a, one or both of the conductive rings 2270 x and2270 z may be formed to further incorporate teeth 2272 x and 2272 z,respectively. The 2272 x and/or 2272 z (whichever ones of these arepresent) protrude into the central regions 2251 of each of theconductive pads 2250 in a manner not unlike the teeth 2252 of adjacentones of the conductive pads 2250. It may be that only the innerconductive ring 2270 z is provided with such teeth, while the outerconductive ring 2270 x is not in order to increase the surface area ofthe inner conductive ring 2270 z to match the surface are of the outerconductive ring 2270 x so that additional capacitances imparted to eachmay be directly compared without the use of offset values, weightingvalues, or other compensation approaches entailing adjusting resistiveor capacitive values of a RC network. Alternatively, it may be that oneor both of the conductive rings 2270 are provided with such teeth, andthat the size and shape of different ones of these teeth are varied soas to protrude into the central regions 2251 of one or more of theconductive pads 2250 with differing depths as part of an approach toequalizing the surface areas of the conductive pads 2250.

In yet another alternative, both of the conductive rings 2270 x and 2270z may be provided with the teeth 2272 x and 2272 z, respectively, toincrease the surface areas of these conductive rings to increase theirsensitivity to the proximity of a tip of a user's digit in comparison tothe sensitivity of the conductive pads 2250 to the proximity of thattip. Such increased sensitivity of the conductive rings 2270 may improvethe ability of the controller 2500 to distinguish between use of thattip by the user to interact with the racetrack surface 250 and use ofthat tip to operate a different manually-operable control at a locationadjacent a portion of the racetrack surface 250. Further, such increasedsensitivity may allow the controller 2500 to more quickly detect theapproach of that tip towards the racetrack surface 250, thereby allowingspeedier powering up of oscillators and/or other components employed bythe controller 2500 to monitor the capacitances of each of theconductive pads 2250 on a recurring basis during periods of time wherethat tip is in close enough proximity to both of the conductive rings2270 that it is presumed that the user intends to interact with theracetrack surface 250.

In FIG. 16 b, a differing arrangement of conductive pads is employed inconjunction with a sheet of conductive foam 2212 sandwiched between thecover 2210 and both those pads and the conductive rings 2270 x and 2270z to form this resistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220. Asthose familiar with this form of resistance sensing technology appliedto manually-operable controls will readily recognize, the conductivefoam 2212 is typically a foam impregnated with particles of conductivematerial that allow a flow of current through the foam at a relativelyhigh resistance when the conductive foam 2212 is not compressed.However, the relatively high resistance through a localized portion ofthe conductive foam 2212 is reduced roughly in proportion to the degreeto which it is compressed (i.e., elastically deformed) at that locality,such that greater pressure applied to further compress that portion ofthe conductive foam 2212 results in a relatively lesser resistance tothe flow of a current therethrough. To enable this, the cover 2210 mustbe made sufficiently flexible to allow compression of only a portion ofthe conductive foam 2212 via pressure applied to the conductive foam2212 via a tip of a digit through the cover 2210. Amounts of resistancebetween adjacent conductive pads may be measured on a recurring basis todetect instances of portions of the conductive foam 2212 beingcompressed. Alternatively, the cover 2210 may incorporate flexibleconductive materials to convey a current from the cover 2210 toconductive pads through the conductive foam 2212, and conductive padsmay be monitored on a recurring basis to determine the resistancebetween the flexible conductive materials carried by the cover 210 andthe conductive pads through the conductive foam.

Unlike the physical configuration of the capacitive sensing variant ofthe touch sensor 220 more completely depicted in perspective in FIG. 13a in which the touch-sensitive surface 225 and the rest of the touchsensor 220 was formed in a ring shape to allow other completely separatemanually-operable controls to be positioned so as to project through themiddle of the touch sensor 220 and be surrounded by the racetracksurface 250 (as was described in reference to FIG. 10 a), FIG. 16 bdepicts this resistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 ashaving a physical configuration in which the touch-sensitive surface 225is a continuous surface on which additional control surfaces providingthe equivalent of manually-operable controls that are entirely separatefrom this variant of the touch sensor 220 are defined along with theracetrack surface 250 on the touch-sensitive surface 225 (akin to whatwas described in reference to FIG. 10 b). Further, unlike the capacitivesensing variants of the touch sensor 220 of FIGS. 13 a-c, 14, 15 a-cand/or 16 a where an inability of the capacitive sensing technology usedto sense the additional pressure applied by a user to select a menu item155 on the racetrack menu 150 might require the use of at least one ofthe selection switches 221 and the substrate 2215 that was separate fromthe PCB 215, the use of a resistance sensing technology (depending onthe exact characteristics of the conductive materials used) may enable acombination of conductive pads and the conductive foam 2212 to be usedto sense that additional pressure without incorporating a separateselector switch. Thus, the touch sensor 220 may be formed directly onthe PCB 215, and not on a separate substrate (such as the substrate2215).

The conductive rings 2270 in this resistance sensing variant of thetouch sensor 220 may be employed in a resistance sensing mode in whichthey are monitored by the controller 2500 to measure resistance throughportions of the conductive foam 2212. In this resistance sensing mode,the controller 2500 may compare the resistance by which current isconveyed to or from each of the conductive rings 2270 to determinewhether those resistances are sufficiently similar (i.e., within apredetermined threshold of similarity) or sufficiently low (i.e.,dropping below a predetermined threshold, or below separatepredetermined thresholds, of resistance) that it may be assumed that atip of a user's digit is applying pressure along the racetrack surface250 at a location relatively centered between the conductive rings 2270,and therefore, is being employed to interact with the racetrack surface250. Alternatively, the conductive rings 2270 may be employed in acapacitive sensing mode in which they are monitored by the controllerfor levels of additional capacitance in much the same way as has beendiscussed at length with regard to the capacitive sensing variants ofthe touch sensor 220 of FIGS. 13 a-c, 14, 15 a-c and/or 16. To betterenable this capacitive sensing mode, it is preferred that insulators beplaced between the conductive foam 2212 and the conductive rings 2270,or that the shape and size of the conductive foam 2212 be such that itdoes not overlie either of the conductive rings 2270 so as to not makeelectrical contact with either of the conductive rings 2270. In thiscapacitive sensing mode, the conductive rings 2270 could be monitored atrecurring intervals to determine when a tip of a user's digit is inclose enough proximity to the racetrack surface 250 that the controller2500 is caused to power up whatever components are required to monitorlevels of resistance for conductive pads associated with the racetracksurface 250 only during times when that tip is in such close proximity.

Still another variant (not shown) of the touch sensor 220 is possiblethat employs a different hybrid of capacitive sensing and resistancesensing technologies in which a resistance sensing element providingmultiple resistance sensing points is layered atop an array ofcapacitive sensing conductive pads and/or the conductive rings 2270. Itmay be that the capacitive sensing technology is used in determining theposition 260 of a tip of a digit along the racetrack surface 250, whilethe resistance sensing technology is used in distinguishing betweeninstances in which relatively low pressure is being applied by a userthrough that tip such that it is determined that the user is not makinga selection of a menu item and instances in which relatively greaterpressure is being applied by a user through that tip such that it isdetermined that the user is making a selection of a menu item. It may bethat the conductive rings 2270 are employed in sensing levels ofcapacitance to distinguish between user interaction with the racetracksurface 250 and user operation of a manually-operable control adjacentthe racetrack surface 250 (whether a manually-operable control that isentirely separate from the touch sensor 220 or a manually-operablecontrol implemented as a control surface defined on the touch-sensitivesurface 225 of the touch sensor 220).

Indeed, beyond the possibility of one or both of the conductive rings2270 x and 2270 z being carried on a separate component of the touchsensor 220 from a component of the touch sensor 220 that carriesresistance sensing component to sense touch or increased pressure, it isalso possible in other possible embodiments for one or both of theconductive rings 2270 x and 2270 z to be carried on a portion of acasing of a device into which the touch sensor 220 is incorporated (orotherwise disposed on still some other component of such a device) atpositions adjacent the touch sensor 220. By way of example, where thetouch sensor 220 is incorporated into a variant of the handheld remotecontrol 200, the outer conductive ring 2270 x may be disposed on thecasing 210 at a location closely surrounding the periphery of a holeformed in the casing 210 through which at least the touch-sensitivesurface 225 extends such that the outer conductive ring 2270 x closelyfollows the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface 225 (thus closelyfollowing the outer boundary 250 x), but is not actually apart of thetouch sensor 220, itself. Further, where there are othermanually-operable controls that are entirely separate from the touchsensor 220 that protrude through a hole formed through thetouch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220 (such that thetouch-sensitive surface 225 surrounds those other manually-operablecontrols) a portion of the casing 210 may carry the inner conductivering 2270 z at a position closely following the edge of the hole formedthrough the touch-sensitive surface 225 (thus closely following theinner boundary 250 z) and surrounding those other manually-operablecontrols.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a possible architecture of the controller2500 in which the controller 2500 incorporates at least a sensorinterface 2520, a switch interface 2521, a storage 2540, a processingdevice 2550, an motion sensor 2560, and perhaps also an output interface2510. The processing device 2550 is coupled to each of the sensorinterface 2520, the switch interface 2521, the storage 2540, the motionsensor 2560 and perhaps also the output interface 2510 to at leastcoordinate the operation of each to perform at least the above-describedfunctions of the controller 2500. As with the processing device 550 andthe storage 540 of the possible architecture for the controller 500depicted in FIG. 9, the processing device 2550 and the storage 2540 maybe any of a variety of types of processing device and storage,respectively, based on any of a variety of technologies.

Each of the output interface 2510, the sensor interface 2520 and theswitch interface 2521 may employ any of a variety of technologies toenable the controller 2500 to communicate with other devices and/orother components of whatever audio/visual device into which thecontroller 500 is incorporated. More specifically, where the controller2500 is a separate and distinct controller from the controller 500 andwhere the controller 500 is incorporated into an audio/visual devicethat also incorporates one or both of a display element (such as thedisplay element 120) and at least one acoustic driver (such as theacoustic drivers 130), the output interface 510 may be of a type toprovide communications at least from the controller 2500 to thecontroller 500 to convey indications of the operation of variousmanually-operable controls to the controller 2500. An example of thiswould be where the controller 2500 is incorporated into the handheldremote control 200 of FIGS. 1, 7 b and/or 15 c, and the controller 500is incorporated into one of the many possible variants of theaudio/visual device 100 or 900. The output interface 2510 may be of atype employing cabling-based and/or a wireless signaling (perhapssignaling conforming to one of the previously listed industry standards)to transmit a signal to the controller 500 to convey such indications.Depending on the technology employed by whatever form of touch sensor220 and/or depending on other factors, it may be deemed desirable to notonly have separate ones of the controllers 500 and 2500, but it may alsobe deemed desirable to split apart the components of the controller 2500into separate physical packages (perhaps separate integrated circuitpackages) that are disposed in different locations within whateverdevice into which the touch sensor 220 is incorporated. This may be seenas desirable in variants of the touch sensor 220 that employ thecombination of the substrate 2215 and the PCB 215. A main portion of thecontroller 2500 (designated 2500 a in FIG. 17) may be disposed on thePCB 215 to enable more advantageous electrical couplings withmanually-operable controls other than the touch sensor 220 (e.g., one ormore of the selection switches 221), while a secondary portion of thecontroller 2500 (designated 2500 b in FIG. 17) may be disposed on thesubstrate 2215 to enable more advantageous electrical couplings withportions of the touch sensor 220 (e.g., the conductive pads 2250 and/orthe conductive rings 2270). Still further, where perhaps the motionsensor 2560 is based on sufficiently different electronic technologythan other components of the controller 2500 (e.g., an accelerometer,gyroscope, tilt switch or other component based onmicro-electromechanical systems technology), the motion sensor 2560 mayconstitute yet another portion of the controller 2500 (designated 2500 cin FIG. 17) that is physically distinct from the main portion 2500 a. Insuch an example configuration, this other portion 2500 c (i.e., themotion sensor 2560) may also be disposed on the PCB 215 to enable a moreadvantageous electrical coupling with the main portion 2500 a.

It is also possible that both of the controllers 500 and 2500 areco-located within the same audio/visual device having an overallarchitecture in which it is deemed desirable to split the controllerfunctions for monitoring manually-operable controls from the controllerfunctions involved in displaying the racetrack menu 150 and acting onindications of a user's selection of a audio/visual program.Alternatively, and as previously mentioned, where the touch sensor 200(of whatever variant) is incorporated directly into the sameaudio/visual device in which one or both of the functions of displayingthe racetrack menu 150 and selecting sources from which to obtainaudio/visual programs are carried out, then it may be deemed desirablefor the controllers 500 and 2500 to be one and the same controller(likely with the processing devices 550 and 2550 being one and the same,and likely with the storages 540 and 2540 being one and the same), inwhich case, incorporating the output interface 2510 would beunnecessary.

The sensor interface 2520 is coupled to the touch sensor 220 to monitorthe touch sensor 220 for indications of a user operating it at least tointeract with the racetrack surface 250. As depicted, the sensorinterface 2520 is meant to monitor either the capacitive sensing variantof the touch sensor 220 of FIGS. 13 a-c, 14, 15 a-c and/or 16 a, or theresistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220 of FIG. 16 b. Thesensor interface 2520 incorporates RC components 2523, oscillators 2524and counters 2525 to monitor conductive pads (e.g., the conductive pads2550 of the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220), andincorporates RC components 2527, oscillators 2528 and counters 2529 tomonitor the conductive rings 2570 of either variant of the touch sensor220.

Stored within the storage 2540 are one or more of a control interactionroutine 2450, a control interaction data 2455, a device power routine2460, a control distinguishing routine 2470 and a control distinguishingdata 2475. Upon being accessed in the storage 2540 and executed by theprocessing device 2550, a sequence of instructions of the device powerroutine 2460 causes the processing device 2550 to shift the manner inwhich manually-operable controls are monitored between different powermodes; a sequence of instructions of the control distinguishing routine2470 causes the processing device 2550 to employ indications of useractivity from the touch sensor 220 distinguish user interaction with atleast the racetrack surface 250 from user operation manually-operablecontrols adjacent to the racetrack surface 250 (whether separate fromthe touch sensor 220 or implemented as control surfaces defined on thetouch-sensitive surface 225); and a sequence of instructions of thecontrol interaction routine 2450 causes the processing device 2550 toemploy indications of user activity from various manually-operablecontrols (including the touch sensor 220) to at least interpret userintentions (and perhaps also to convey indications of the user'soperation of those various controls to the processing device 550).

FIG. 18 is a flowchart depicting an implementation of a manner in whichthe sequences of instructions of the device power routine 2460, thecontrol distinguishing routine 2470 and the control interaction routine2450 may cooperate to cause the processing device 2550 to balance themonitoring of manually-operable controls and the conservation ofelectric power (and thereby, cause the controller 2500, overall, tobalance the monitoring of manually-operable controls and theconservation of electric power). Generally, the sequence of instructionsof the device power routine 2460 causes the processing device to placeat least portions of the controller 2500 and at least some of themanually-operable controls to which the controller 2500 is coupled(including different portions of the touch sensor 220) in one of a lowerpower mode, a partial power mode and a higher power mode. Sequences ofinstructions of one or both of the control distinguishing routine 2470and the control interaction routine 2450 are executed during the partialand higher power modes to monitor manually-operable controls forindications of their being operated by a user.

Beginning at 2610, generally, where there has been no indication of userinteraction with either the touch sensor 220 or any othermanually-operable control provided alongside the touch sensor 220 (e.g.,one or more of the manually-operable controls 222, 224, 226, 228, 270a-d and 280) for more than a first predetermined time period, the powerroutine 2460 causes the processing device 2550 to place the controller2500 and the touch sensor 220 in the lower power mode. In the lowerpower mode, the processing device 2550 is caused to disable and/or poweroff the sensor interface 2520 and the switch interface 2521 to conservewhat may be a limited supply of electric power, such as may be the casewhere the touch sensor 220 and the controller 2500 are incorporated intoone of the previously discussed variants of the handheld remote control200, in which there is a limited available supply of electric power froma battery or other power source of limited capacity. During the lowerpower mode, and where the controller 2500 and the touch sensor 220 areincorporated into such a device as one of the variants of the handheldremote control 200, the processing device 2550 is caused by the devicepower routine 2460 to await an indication of movement at 2612 bymonitoring the motion sensor 2560 for an indication of the device beingmoved, with the presumption being made that movement is likely anindication of a user picking up the device or otherwise preparing tooperate one or more manually-operable controls of the device.

Upon the provision of an indication of movement by the motion sensor2560, the processing device 2550 is caused by the device power routine2460 to place the controller 2500 and the touch sensor 220 in thepartial power mode at 2620. In the partial power mode, the processingdevice is caused to provide power to and/or enable only a portion of thesensor interface 2520, only a portion of the touch sensor 220, and atleast a portion of the switch interface 2521. More precisely, some orall of the RC components 2527, the oscillators 2528 and the counters2529 required to monitor at least the outer conductive ring 2270 x(i.e., the inner conductive ring 2270 z may also be monitored) areprovided with power and enabled to monitor at least the outer conductivering 2720 x either for any additional capacitance imparted to it(indicative of a tip of a user's digit approaching the capacitivesensing variant or a hybrid variant of the touch sensor 220) or for areduction in resistance between the conductive ring 2720 x and anotherconductive surface (indicative of a tip of a user's digit beginning topress against the conductive foam 2212 to operate the earlier-discussedresistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220). Also, moreprecisely, at least a portion of the switch interface 2521 is providedwith power and enabled to monitor manually-operable controls other thanthe touch sensor 220, such as the controls 222, 224, 226 and 228 (ifpresent); and possibly to also monitor the controls 270 a-d and 280 (ifthe controls 270 a-d and 280 are implemented as separatemanually-operable controls and not implemented as control surfacesdefined on the touch-sensitive surface 225 of the touch sensor 220).This monitoring occurs for up to a first predetermined time period at2622, with the first predetermined time period starting from whenmovement was detected, and chosen to last long enough to provide a userwith a reasonable opportunity to begin operating manually-operablecontrols after picking up or otherwise moving the device. If, at 2630,no indication of any operation of controls other than the touch sensor220 is received and no indication of either additional capacitance orreduced resistance is detected through the outer conductive ring 2270 x(or through the inner conductive ring 2270 z, where it is also monitoredduring partial power mode) during the first predetermined time period,then the processing device is caused by the device power routine 2460 toplace the controller 2500 and the manually-operable controls coupled tothe controller 2500 back into lower power mode at 2610.

However, if, at 2630, during the first predetermined time period, anindication of user operation was received from one of the controls otherthan the touch sensor 220 (e.g., from one of the manually-operablecontrols 222, 224, 226 or 228 via the switch interface 2521 by whichthey are coupled to the controller 2500), then the processing device2550 is caused to operate the output interface 2510 to cause anindication of that other manually-operable control being operated by auser to be conveyed to the controller 500 at 2632. Further, the partialpower mode is maintained at 2620, and monitoring of bothmanually-operable controls other than the touch sensor 220 and of atleast the outer conductive ring 2270 x of the touch sensor 220 foranother instance of the first predetermined time period occurs again at2622.

Alternatively, if, at 2630, during the first predetermined time period,an indication of a tip of a user's digit at least approaching theproximity of the touch sensor 220 (if not actually beginning to operatethe touch sensor 220) was received from the touch sensor 220 (e.g., fromthe outer conductive ring 2270 x via the sensor interface 2520 by whichthe touch sensor 220 is coupled to the controller 2500), then theprocessing device 2550 is caused by the device power routine 2460 toplace the controller 2500 and the touch sensor 220 in the higher powermode at 2640. In the higher power mode, the processing device is causedto provide power to and/or enable the entirety of the sensor interface2520, the touch sensor 220, as well as the switch interface 2521. Moreprecisely, all of the RC components 2527, the oscillators 2528 and thecounters 2529 required to monitor both of the conductive rings 2270 areprovided with power and enabled to monitor both the outer conductivering 2270 x and the inner conductive ring 2270 z. Also, more precisely,all of the RC components 2523, the oscillators 2524 and the counters2525 required to monitor conductive pads (e.g., the conductive pads 2250in the capacitive sensing variant of the touch sensor 220) are providedwith power and enabled. Further, the switch interface 2521 is fullyprovided (or continues to be provided) with power and enabled to monitormanually-operable controls other than the touch sensor 220, such as thecontrols 222, 224, 226 and 228 (if present); and possibly to alsomonitor the controls 270 a-d and 280 (if the controls 270 a-d and 280are implemented as separate manually-operable controls and notimplemented as control surfaces defined on the touch-sensitive surface225 of the touch sensor 220). This monitoring occurs for up to a secondpredetermined time period at 2642, with the second predetermined timeperiod being chosen to last long enough to provide a user with areasonable opportunity to operate the touch sensor 220 (e.g., tointeract with the racetrack surface 250). If, at 2650, no indication ofany operation of controls, including the touch sensor 220, is receivedand no indication of either additional capacitance or reduced resistanceis detected through either of the outer conductive ring 2270 x or theinner conductive ring 2270 z during the second predetermined timeperiod, then the processing device is caused by the device power routine2460 to place the controller 2500 and the manually-operable controlscoupled to the controller 2500 back into lower power mode.

However, if, at 2650, during the second predetermined time period, anindication of user operation was received from one of the controls otherthan the touch sensor 220, then the processing device is caused tooperate the output interface 2510 to cause an indication of that othercontrol being operated by a user to be conveyed to the controller 500 at2632. Further, the processing device 2550 is caused to place thecontroller and the touch sensor 220 back into partial power mode at2620, and monitoring of both controls other than the touch sensor 220and of at least the outer conductive ring 2270 x for another instance ofthe first predetermined time period occurs again at 2622.

Alternatively, if, at 2650, during the second predetermined time period,an indication of a user operation was received from the touch sensorthat is indicative of the user interacting with the racetrack surface250 (or perhaps another control surface also defined on thetouch-sensitive surface 225, such as control surfaces to implement themanually-operable controls 270 a-d and 280), then the processing device2550 is caused to operate the output interface 2510 to cause anindication of the touch sensor 220 being operated by a user to beconveyed to the controller 500 at 2652. Further, the processing device2550 is caused by the device power routine 2460 to maintain thecontroller 2500 and the touch sensor 220 in the higher power mode at2640, and to continue monitoring both controls other than the touchsensor 220 and the touch sensor 220 for another instance of the secondpredetermined time period at 2642.

During times when the device power routine 2460 causes the processingdevice 2550 to place the controller 2500 and the various controlscoupled to it into the partial power mode, the device power routine 2460enables the processing device 2550 to execute a sequence of instructionsof the control interaction routine 2450 as part of causing themonitoring of controls other than the touch sensor 220 and themonitoring of at least the outer conductive ring 2270 x. The controlinteraction routine 2450 causes the processing device 2550 to operate atleast the counters 2529 to check for an additional capacitance or areduced resistance at a recurring interval, causing the processingdevice 2550 to reset the counters 2529 each time.

During times when the device power routine 2460 causes the processingdevice 2550 to place the controller 2500 and the various controlscoupled to it into the higher power mode, the device power routine 2460enables the processing device 2550 to execute sequences of instructionsof both the control interaction routine 2450 and the controldistinguishing routine 2750 as part of causing the monitoring ofmanually-operable controls, including the entirety of the touch sensor220 (including conductive pads of the touch sensor 220, such as theconductive pads 2250). The control interaction routine 2450 causes theprocessing device 2550 to operate the counters 2525 and 2529 to checkfor additional capacitance or reduced resistance at a recurringinterval, causing the processing device 2550 to reset the counters 2525and 2529 each time. The control interaction routine 2450 also causes theprocessing device 2550 to check the switch interface 2521 forindications of the selection switch(es) 221 and/or other switches (e.g.,the manually-operable controls 222, 224, 226 and 228, where they areimplemented as switches) being operated. In implementations of either acapacitive sensing or resistance sensing variant of the touch sensor 220that requires the use of offset or weighting values in monitoringconductive pads (e.g., the conductive pads 2250 or other conductive padsthat may be employed where the manually-operable controls 270 a-d and280 are implemented as control surfaces on the touch-sensitive surface225) or in performing calculations to determine the current position 260of a tip of a user's digit (as has previously been described at length),the control interaction data 2455 is made up of at least such offset orweighting values, and the control interaction routine 2450 causes theprocessing device 2550 to access the control interaction data 2455 toretrieve those offset or weighting values. The control distinguishingroutine 2470 causes the processing device 2550 to perform the variouspossible comparisons and calculations previously discussed at length toemploy the detected additional capacitances (in capacitive sensingvariants of the touch sensor 220) or reduced resistances (in resistancesensing variants of the touch sensor 220) in distinguishing a useraction intended to interact with the racetrack surface 250 from a useraction to operate some other manually-operable control. Where the use ofoffset or weighting values in performing such calculations is required(such as in determining the current position 260 of a tip of a digit asthat tip is moved by a user from overlying one of the conductive pads2250 with one inherent capacitance to another of the conductive pads2250 with a different inherent capacitance), the control distinguishingdata 2475 is made up of at least such offset or weighting values, andthe control distinguishing routine 2750 causes the processing device2550 to access the control distinguishing data 2475 to retrieve thoseoffset or weighting values.

In an alternate implementation of the manner in which the controller2500 is caused to balance the monitoring of manually-operable controlsand the conservation of electric power, the three earlier-describedportions of the controller 2500 (namely, the portions 2500 a, 2500 b and2500 c) cooperate in various ways to toggle one another's separate powerstates to place the controller 2500, overall, and whatevermanually-operable controls are coupled to the controller 2500 into oneof the lower power, partial power and higher power mode. As discussedwith regard to FIG. 18, where there is no indication of activity fromany of the manually-operable controls (including the touch sensor) for afirst predetermined period of time, the lower power mode is entered intoand maintained until there is an indication from the motion sensor 2560of movement. With the motion sensor 2560 (i.e., the portion 2500 c)being coupled to the main portion 2500 a of the controller, theprocessing device 2550 receives this indication of movement and iscaused by the device power routine 2460 to transition to the partialpower state, while also providing the indication of movement to thesensor interface 2520 (i.e., the portion 2500 b) to cause the sensorinterface 2520 to also enter the partial power state. With the mainportion 2500 a in the partial power state, the processing device 2550 iscaused by the control interaction routine 2450 to monitor the switchinterface for an indication of user operation of a manually-operablecontrol implemented as a switch (e.g., possibly one of themanually-operable controls 222, 224, 226 or 228) for the firstpredetermined period of time, in addition to continuing to monitor themotion sensor 2560. Meanwhile, with the portion 2500 b (i.e., the sensorinterface 2520) also in the partial power state, an independentprocessing device (not shown) of the sensor interface 2520 providespower to and enables operation of the oscillators 2528 and the counters2529 to the extent necessary to monitor at least the outer conductivering 2270 x for the first predetermined period of time.

If the processing device 2550 receives no indication of either furthermotion from the motion sensor 2560 or operation of a manually-operablecontrol implemented as a switch from the switch interface 2521 duringthe first predetermined period of time, then the processing device iscaused by the device power routine 2460 to signal the portion 2500 bthat the main portion 2500 a has received no indication of user activityfor at least the first predetermined period of time. If the independentprocessing device of the sensor interface 2520 receives no indication ofincreased capacitance on the outer conductive ring 2270 x (or whateverother conductive ring may be monitored), then that independentprocessing signals the main portion 2500 a that the portion 2500 b hasreceived no indication of user activity for at least the firstpredetermined period of time. If the first predetermined period of timepasses without either the processing device 2550 of the main portion2500 a or the independent processing device of the sensor interface 2520(i.e., the portion 2500 b) receiving an indication of user activity,then these processing devices respond to both the passage of the firstpredetermined period of time and each other's signals indicating no useractivity observed by the other during the first predetermined period oftime by placing both the portions 2500 a and 2500 b, as well as themanually-operable controls coupled to each, into the lower power mode.

However, if the processing device 2550 does receive an indication ofeither further motion from the motion sensor 2560 or operation of amanually-operable control implemented as a switch from the switchinterface 2521 during the first predetermined period of time, then theprocessing device is caused by the device power routine 2460 to signalthe portion 2500 b that the main portion 2500 a has received thatindication, and the processing device 2550 is caused by the controlinteraction routine to operate the output interface 2510 to output anindication of that user activity to the controller 500. The processingdevice 2550 continues monitoring the switch interface 2521 and operatingthe output interface 2510 to signal the controller 500 with indicationsof user activity until at some point where the first predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed since the last time there was either suchuser activity or an indication of movement received from the motionsensor 2560 (i.e., the portion 2500 c). At that point, the processingdevice 2550 signals the sensor interface 2520 (i.e., the portion 2500 b)that the first predetermined period of time has elapsed since the lastuser activity was observed.

Each time the independent processing device of the sensor interface 2520receives an indication of increased capacitance on the outer conductivering 2270 x (or whatever other conductive ring may be monitored), theindependent processing device of the sensor interface 2520 places thesensor interface 2520 (i.e., the portion 2500 b) into the high powermode for a second predetermined of time in which that independentprocessing device provides power to and enables the operation of theoscillators 2524 and the counters 2525 to monitor conductive pads (e.g.,the conductive pads 2520) of the touch sensor 220 to monitor for userinteraction with the racetrack 250 and/or any other control surfacesthat may be defined on the touch-sensitive surface 225. The secondpredetermined period of time is considerably shorter than the first, andthus, the independent processing device is essentially toggling thesensor interface 2520 between the partial and higher power modes,switching to the higher power mode when a higher capacitance on theouter conductive ring 2270 x indicates a user interaction with a controlsurface may be likely to occur, and switching back to the partial powermode when such higher capacitance disappears from the outer conductivering 2270 x. The independent processing device of the sensor interface2520 signals the main portion 2500 a with indications of any userinteraction with any control surface defined on the touch-sensitivesurface 225, causing the processing device 2550 to operate the outputinterface 2510 to signal the controller 500 with indications of theseuser interactions. This continues until at some point where the firstpredetermined period of time has elapsed since the last time there wassuch user interaction with any control surface and since the last timethere was any such higher capacitance detected on the outer conductivering 2270 x. At that point, the independent processing device of thesensor interface 2520 signals the main portion 2500 a that the firstpredetermined period of time has elapsed since the last user interactionwas observed.

Again, if the first predetermined period of time passes without eitherthe processing device 2550 of the main portion 2500 a or the independentprocessing device of the sensor interface 2520 (i.e., the portion 2500b) receiving an indication of user activity, then these processingdevices respond to both the passage of the first predetermined period oftime and each other's signals indicating no user activity observed bythe other during the first predetermined period of time by placing boththe portions 2500 a and 2500 b, as well as the manually-operablecontrols coupled to each, into the lower power mode. Thus, in thisalternate implementation, the portions 2500 a and 2500 b are eachprovided with the capacity to cause the other to immediately transitionout of the lower power state, and each is provided with the capacity tosignal the other of there being a sufficient lack of observed activityto allow the other to transition back into the lower power state.

Regardless of the exact implementation of order and timings by whichtransitions between power modes are caused to occur, it is deemedpreferable that a conductive ring, such as the outer conductive ring2270 x, be employed to quickly toggle the monitoring of conductive pads(and/or other components of whatever power-consuming sensor technologyis employed by the touch sensor 220) between a partial power mode inwhich a limited monitoring of the touch sensor 220 (e.g., a monitoringof only the conductive ring 2270 x) occurs and a higher power mode inwhich a fuller monitoring of more of the touch sensor occurs. It is alsopreferred that a lower power mode be entered into where no part of thetouch sensor 220 is monitored in response to a predetermined period oftime having elapsed since any user interaction was observed, at leastwith the touch sensor 220, and that possibly, a motion sensor (e.g., themotion sensor 2560) be employed to cause a transition out of the lowerpower mode and into the partial power mode.

Further, although these examples have employed at least the outerconductive rings 2270 x in detecting the approach of a tip of a digittowards the touch sensor or towards other portions of the touch sensorand/or detecting the beginning of application of pressure by a useragainst a portion of the touch sensor 220 indicative of interaction withother portions of the touch sensor 220 being about to occur, othermechanisms may be employed in place of at least the conductive ring 2270x. By way of example, the provision of a full ring encircling the touchsensor 220 or other portions of the touch sensor 220 may not benecessary where it is surmised that the approach of a tip of a digit ismost likely to be from only a limited subset of directions toward thetouch sensor 220 such that an elongate conductor positioned along anedge of a casing of a device into which the touch sensor 220 may beincorporated or an elongate conductor along only one or two sides of theperiphery of the touch sensor may be deemed necessary. Also by way ofexample, a temperature capable of sensing body heat or an optical sensorcapable of sensing the translucence of skin may be employed in place ofat least the outer conductive ring 2270 x.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims andother claims to which the applicant may be entitled.

1. An apparatus comprising: a casing; a touch sensor disposed on the casing as a first manually-operable control and providing a touch-sensitive surface to enable operation of a user interface by a user of the apparatus with a tip of a digit of the user; a second manually-operable lacking ability to sense a mere touch of the second manually-operable control by the tip, and disposed on the casing at a location in close proximity to a portion the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor; an outer conductive ring disposed about the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor enabling an approach of the tip towards at least portions of the touch-sensitive surface adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface to be detected; a processing device able to access the touch sensor and the second manually-operable control; and a storage accessible to the processing device and storing a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processing device, causes the processing device to: monitor a level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring on a recurring basis for an instance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above a minimum capacitance threshold; and in response to an instance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold, employ the level of capacitance in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the touch sensor comprises a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in close proximity to the second manually-operable control; and to employ the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control, the processing device is further caused to compare the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold to a level of capacitance of the conductive pad.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in close proximity to the second manually-operable control; the apparatus further comprises an inner conductive ring positioned within the area enclosed by the outer conductive ring such that a portion of the inner conductive ring is positioned adjacent the conductive pad in a manner in which the conductive pad is between the inner and outer conductive rings; and to employ the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control, the processing device is further caused to employ the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold together with a level of capacitance of the inner conductive ring.
 4. A method comprising: monitoring a level of capacitance of an outer conductive ring surrounding the periphery of a touch-sensitive surface of a touch sensor serving as a first manually-operable control and separating the touch-sensitive surface from a second manually-operable control on a recurring basis for an instance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above a minimum capacitance threshold; and in response to an instance of the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold, employing the level of capacitance in distinguishing between an instance of a user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein: the touch sensor comprises a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in close proximity to the second manually-operable control; and employing the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control comprises comparing the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold to a level of capacitance of the conductive pad.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein: the touch sensor comprises a conductive pad adjacent the periphery of the touch-sensitive surface at the portion of the periphery that is in close proximity to the second manually-operable control; the apparatus further comprises an inner conductive ring positioned within the area enclosed by the outer conductive ring such that a portion of the inner conductive ring is positioned adjacent the conductive pad in a manner in which the conductive pad is between the inner and outer conductive rings; and employing the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring in distinguishing between an instance of the user interacting with the touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor and an instance of the user operating the second manually-operable control comprises employing the level of capacitance of the outer conductive ring rising above the minimum capacitance threshold together with a level of capacitance of the inner conductive ring. 